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The Lisa Ann Rating Guide
Presently there is no unified way to access the true condition of Surf Magazines or Surf Posters. This simple guide
hopes to resolve this. With so much internet selling and trading going on, this will allow for a much more even playing field
when buying, selling or trading.
Before you can access the true value of your magazines you must first access its true condition. The better the condition,
the higher the value. A Ono (Good) should only bring approx. 50% the value of a Cherry (Mint). Except for the rarer issues,
many of which only a few Cherry ones are left, if at all.
Magazines should be graded from the inside out. Check inside pages, inside spine and covers and outside spine and covers
for any tears, marks, brittleness, scotch tape, soiling, chunks out, waterstains, scruffing, creases or other defects that
would affect the grade. After all the above steps have been taken, you can begin to consider an overall grade. The grading
of a magazine and poster is done by simply looking and describing its condition, which may range from a perfect newsstand
condition Cherry to a Beat, worn, dirty, and in pieces.
Their are many factors that go into the final evaluation and it is important that you dont wishful think it into another
category. If you consider yourself a serious collector you should be aiming for a Cherry (Mint) whenever possible, in the
long run these will always bring top dollar.
Perfect example is two Surfers #2-1 where recently on eBay. One appeared by scan to be a solid Ono (Good), possibly Betty
(Fine), this one brought in $1,178.00, while the other appeared to be a Ono and it brought in $898.00..... So go after those
Cherries, they are sweet!!!
Note: If your magazine is better than one grade, but not quite up to the next grade simply call it a + or -. Example:
Ono+, same as a Primo-
A helpful selling and trading Hint from Miss Etiquette
When selling or trading Miss Etiquette says!!!
List all defects that are on your magazine or book besides the rating. This will stop any confusion of actual value. Also
some collectors dont mind if its missing a certain page or has a small rip, etc. So list all those defects, let the buyer
decide.
Explanation of the Guide ( L to R )
Guide Rating Names, (A)=Condition, (100%) =Value compared to a Cherry
(Mint) = Overstreet Definition (The Overstreet Comic Book Rating Guide)
Page count normally includes covers.
Cherry (A) (100%) (Mint) - Cherry is mint like it was printed yesterday. Cover is flat with no surface wear. Cover inks
are bright with high reflectivity. Cover is firmly secured to interior pages. Corners are square and sharp. Staples are
clean with no rust. Paper is supple and fresh. Spine is tight and flat. Posters appear as they came off the press, just slightest
rolls to edges allowed. Only slightest imperfections or that cherry aint da kine!
Betty (B) (85%) (Fine) - A Betty is still fine, shes been looked at a bit but shes still desirable and has been handled
with care. Sharp, bright and clean with supple pages. Cover is relatively flat with slight surface or edge wear. Cover inks
are generally bright with moderate to high reflectivity. Slight scuffing allowable. Staples allow for some discoloration.
Spine may have a couple of almost insignificant stress lines and is almost completely flat. An almost unnoticeable crease
or dink (faint bend marks that almost look like a smile, seem to appear on some magazines) is acceptable, if color is not
broken. Pages and posters can be yellowish, but not brown. Betty magazines have their subscription envelopes. Corners can
be slightly bunted.
Da Kine (C) (70%) (Very Good) - The Da Kine is very good, your average poster or magazine. These show some wear, can have
a reading or center crease or a rolled spine, or a series of dinks, but is not so bad that it is not very collectible. Some
discoloration, fading and even minor soiling is allowed. As much as a 1/4 can be missing our of the corner or edge. Inside
missing a square piece (1/4 X 1/4) is also acceptable as long as it doesnt interfere with the story. A maximum accumulation
of 1 spline separation is allowable. Pin holes, store stamps, arrival dates, initials, etc. have no effect on this grade.
Subscription envelopes can be missing or damaged. Cover and interior pages can have one or two minor tears and folds and centerfold
may be loose or detached. One staple can be loose, but the cover is not completely detached. Staples can have slight rust.
Paper may be brown but not brittle. Tape repairs are allowed in this category, but not recommended as they will in time deteriorate
and discolor your magazine or poster.
Ono (D) (50%) (Good) - A copy in this grade has all the pages and covers, although there may be small pieces missing inside
up to 1 X 1; the largest piece allowed from front or back cover or a poster is a 1 triangle or square 1/2 by 1/2. Magazines
and posters in this grade are commonly creased, scuffed, have foxing and soiled. Cover and pages can be loose but magazine
must still be complete. Seam can be split but not completely. Often paper quality is low but not brittle. Cover reflectivity
is low. The lowest collectible grade, shes Ono if shes readable but not very clean.
Tired (F) (25%) (Fair) - A copy in this grade has all pages and most of the covers, centerfold may be missing, if it does
not affect the story, but value will be reduced accordingly. Creases and folds are prevalent and paper quality may be moderately
low, they are generally soiled, ragged and unattractive. Staples may be gone, and/ or the cover split will drop it into this
category. Corners are commonly slightly rounded. If coupons are cut out from anywhere it will put the magazine in this grade.
Up to 1/10 of front cover may be missing . Pieces up to 2 X 2 can be missing or coupons. These books are mostly readable although
soiling, staining, tears, markings, chunks or mail in coupons missing may interfere with reading the complete story. Very
often paper quality is moderately low and may have slight brittleness around the edges but not in the central portion of the
pages.
Stink Eye (X) (10%)(Poor) - Basically so beat up that their is little if any collectible value. Up to 1/2 cover or 1/4
poster missing, over 2 long rips, mildew, stains, brittle, water stains, incomplete, excessive writing or stamps, severe
folds. Just a mess , I guess better than nothing but very little if any value. These are the ones in good shape that you take
pages out of to rebuild with....
Caring for your babys
Vintage Surf Posters are works of art, John Seversons Big Wednesday hangs in the Berlin Museum, and surfing magazines
are historical records of popular culture and should be treated with the care they deserve. Besides the constant danger of
enraged girl friends, the greatest danger to your collection is the elements - this includes bugs, light, heat and humidity.
Even the oils in your fingers and hands can damage your collection. Yet with a few simple precautions you can overcome these
dangers.
#1 - Avoid storing you collection in well lit areas. Sunlight will fade your collectables quickly as well as leave them
brittle, so don't leave them outside or in your car. Longer term storage should be in a dark place away from windows. Any
light will cause fading and other chemical deterioration.
#2 - Fungus and mold can grow in high temperatures or when there is poor air circulation, extremely dry areas run the
risk of making the paper brittle. A dry temperature in the upper sixties is ideal for your collection.
#3 - Keep you collectables sealed in Mylar Type "D" bags with acid free backing and in acid free storage cartons.
According to the US Library of Congress, the preferred method of preservation of valuable documents is uncoated archival quality
polyester film. These include mylarTM type d by Dupont Co. or MelinexTM 516 by ICI Corp. These are available at comic book
stores or on-line.
#4 - Store magazines vertically, away from the floor or outside wall and try to put acid-free board between them if you
do not use mylar bags. Remember cardboard is acidic and is hazardous to your collection, so use acid free backing and storage
boxes. True acid free boards have been defined as having a minimum pH of 8.5 and 3% calcium carbonate buffer throughout.
Presently deacidification of paper is possible that impregnates the paper with an alkaline reserve, that neutralizes
the existing acids and inhibits oxidation, future acidity and staining due to certain fungi. This is generally a proffesional
operation but deacidifying sprays are available.
#5 - Pollution will cause your posters and magazines to yellow over time. The garage is a no-no due to the automobile
exhaust. Attics also because of their extreme heat and dryness can be damaging. If possible store the rarest ones in a climate
& an air controlled environment.
#6 - Bugs such as cockroaches and bookworms can totally destroy a collection. Separate anything with them from the rest
of the collection and treat immediately.
Handling of collectables should be done with care. Always wash your hands first to eliminate any oils. Thin cotton gloves
are available and highly recommended for your rarest. Magazines should be opened slowly on a hard flat surface to decrease
spine stress. Never fold, bend or crease posters or magazines.
So treat your babys with care, their a time capsule into a bygone era. Be good to them and they may stoke many more
generations.
(Acid migration = transfer of acid from one page to another by direct contact or by vapor transfers. Highly damaging to
paper)
Restored Magazines & Posters
For years collectors have restored magazines by replacing staples or replacing damaged and missing pages with one from
another magazine. Then with color photocopying many centerfolds and pages where copied to complete an issue. Presently with
the advancement in home computers one can do a complete restoration of a poster, page or full magazine, if one has the time
and talent. Selling these is in many cases against copyright laws and just plain not cool. Signed copies digitally enhanced
can be bought from many of the masters such as John Severson for a small fee. And the money goes to the ones that deserve
it.
If you do any form of restoration work on anything you should let everyone know. A restored collectible will not necessarily
go up a grade, although it will increase in value as its complete. So be cool and let everyone know what's up.
Books and comic books restoration is a fine art and if you have a valuable early edition poster or magazine you should
contact an accredited restoration service. Attempting to restore one can easily destroy, so please think before you scrub
down that #2-1 with moms scrub brush.
Some Basic Guidelines
#1- If your copy is an Ono or better you would probably better off leaving it alone. One can easily do more damage than
you can expect to add in value.
#2-Don't use scotch tape to mend torn or tattered pages. Instead, use a heat-set mending tissue thats available at fine
stationary stores or book supplies stores. Simply place the tissue over your page and iron to recreate a perfect page. Also
Japanese paper and wheat or cornstarch paste can be used, this can be removed later with no effect on the page.
#3-Never clean anything unless you have tested your method on a throw away piece of the same stock. Water can lift the
inks and thin the paper. Be extremely careful with any solvent as improper ones will cause long term damage. Bleaching improperly
applied can rot the page yet proper dry cleaning and flattening can do wonders. Be careful!!!
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