How We Grade our Pulps

One of the challenges of selling pulp magazines, digests, and books through a virtual storefront is applying a grading criterion that gives the buyer assurance that the item they purchase will meet their expectations.  The quality of pulp magazine manufacturing nearly prohibits grading any copy as Fine or Near Fine.  I reason this because if a copy were to have been stored immediately after printing, after 80 years in storage, it would emerge still with some degree of brittleness and toning. The cause is the slow fire of the acidic paper and its effect on other materials in which it comes in contact.   High-end pulp collectable copies can routinely be found graded as Very Good or Fine by specialty dealers or reputable auction houses and at premium prices.  A recent, Fine copy of a Doc Savage, first issue, sold at Heritage Auctions for $24,000.

What follows are descriptions and examples of how we grade our pulps.  As a rule, we grade conservatively. I will begin with the most common grade of our inventory.

 GOOD: This is the most common grade of pulp magazines and digests that are found on the general market. They also make up the majority of our pulp inventory. These copies have been enjoyed over the years.  They were not originally bought or stored as collectables by the owners.  As such, exposure to sunlight and climate fluctuations have made the covers brittle and they have either fully detached from the spine or are at risk of doing so, but are still present.  Tape repairs or reinforcements to the hinges are common.  The paper spine has chipped away at the head and foot but is still attached.  The cover has dulled and paper is toned. Internally, all pages are present.  Publisher staples are present (if issued) but are corroded and the first few pages have tears near them. They are darkened with age due to the acidity of the pulp paper and put off a musty smell.  Some pages may have closed tears or water stains to the page; however, the readability of the text is not affected.

 

 Figure 1: This 1945 issue of Astounding is an example of a good copy with typical condition issues.  Covers and spine are present and worn, but have separated from the spine in areas.  Covers are creased and have some staining. 

VERY GOOD: Copies at this grade will have both covers and spine intact and secured to the binding.  They may have some small chips to the head and foot, some light creases to the covers, and light soiling or marks.  All pages are present and free of large tears or chips. 

Figure 2: A very good copy of the November 1952 issue of Science Fiction Adventures. 

 

 FAIR: These copies are considered reading copies.  They have significant condition issues and may be missing one or both covers, or they have been crudely reattached. The text will have some moisture staining but remains legible.  The vast majority of copies I grade as fair will be set aside as a binder’s copy (see below).  However, volumes that contain first issue stories or have an association, will be listed and sold as a fair copy with all defects noted.  

 

 Figure 3: A fair copy that has been crudely reattached with masking tape.  Spine is lost.

 

 POOR: These copies are only suitable for substantial restoration or as parts that could be used to complete other volumes.  Generally, I sell these copies in bundles through online auction sites.

 

 Figure 4: This 1947 edition of Astounding Stories is an example of an issue graded as poor.  The volume is missing both covers.  The spine is mostly lost and the binding has been reinforced with scotch tape. 

AGE TONE SCALE: