The Beginning of Comic Book Slabbing
Certified Guaranty Company, commonly known as CGC, began grading and encapsulating comic books in 2000. Its arrival introduced a new model to the comic-book marketplace: an independent company would evaluate a comic’s authenticity and condition, assign a numerical grade, and seal the book inside a protective holder.
Before third-party grading became common, comic-book condition was usually described by the seller. Terms such as “Very Fine,” “Near Mint,” or “high grade” could mean different things to different people. CGC helped create a more standardized system by combining professional grading with a certification label and tamper-evident encapsulation.
The first CGC holders were designed to accomplish several goals:
- Protect the comic from unnecessary handling.
- Keep the comic flat and supported.
- Allow the book to be viewed without removing it from the holder.
- Provide a visible record of the comic’s title, issue, grade, page quality, and certification number.
- Give buyers and sellers a way to verify the certified item.
The practice is commonly called “slabbing,” although the formal term is encapsulation.
Early CGC Labels and Holders
CGC’s earliest labels were not identical to the labels used today. During the early years, CGC used different label colors for different types of submissions. Red labels were used for Modern comics, while blue labels were used for Universal Grade comics from older eras.
The red Modern label was eventually discontinued, and CGC later standardized Universal Grade comics under the familiar blue label. Other label colors were retained for special classifications, including Signature Series, Qualified, Restored, and Conserved books.
Early CGC labels generally had a smaller grade presentation than later labels. Over time, CGC changed the size and placement of the grade, updated its logo, refined the information displayed on the label, and added or modified security and verification features.
Changes to the CGC Holder
The CGC holder has also changed over time. Different versions of the holder are often described by collectors as different “generations,” although these generation names are largely collector terminology rather than a single official CGC classification system.
Changes over the years have included refinements to:
- The shape and construction of the outer case.
- The inner well that supports the comic.
- The clarity and appearance of the plastic.
- The way the comic is held inside the case.
- The strength and design of the sealed perimeter.
- The label layout and security features.
- The overall presentation of the certified comic.
Older holders may have a different visual appearance from current holders, including different label proportions, logos, grade boxes, barcodes, and holographic elements. A comic certified many years ago may therefore look noticeably different from a comic certified today, even when both were graded by CGC.
The Evolution of the CGC Label
The label is an important part of the encapsulation system because it identifies the item and records information about its certification.
Over time, CGC has refined the label to make important information easier to read and to accommodate additional designations. Depending on the comic, a CGC label may identify:
- The title and issue number.
- The publisher and publication date.
- The assigned grade.
- Page quality.
- Restoration or conservation information.
- Signature information.
- Pedigree or special collection designations.
- Key issue or significant story information.
- Notable creators and cover artists.
- The unique CGC certification number.
CGC has also changed the presentation of the grade. The grade box became larger and more prominent as collectors placed increasing importance on the numerical grade. Page quality and other information have also been repositioned or presented differently on later labels.
Holder Security and Verification
CGC holders are designed to be tamper-evident. The purpose is not to make a holder impossible to open, but to make unauthorized opening or interference more apparent.
If a comic is removed from its holder, the original certification no longer represents the comic as an actively encapsulated CGC-certified item. The comic must be submitted again if the owner wants it graded and encapsulated under a new certification.
CGC certification numbers can be used to look up a comic’s certification record through the company’s verification system. However, certification records can change when a comic is reholdered, cracked out for pressing and regrading, or otherwise resubmitted. In those situations, the original certification may be retired or removed from the active census, and a new certification number may be assigned.
Reholdering Older CGC Comics
A reholder submission is generally used when the comic remains in its original CGC holder but the holder needs to be replaced. Common reasons include:
- Cracks or chips in the case.
- A damaged or separated seal.
- Heavy scratches or clouding.
- A holder that has been damaged during shipping or storage.
- A desire to place the comic in a newer holder design.
A straight reholder is different from a press and regrade. With a straight reholder, the comic is intended to retain its existing grade if there has been no damage or other reason to change the certification. With a press and regrade, the comic is removed from the holder and evaluated again. Its grade may increase, decrease, or remain unchanged.
Pressing, Regrading, and Certification Changes
When a previously certified comic is submitted for pressing and regrading, the original holder is opened and the book is examined again. The original certification may then be removed from the active census.
This does not necessarily mean that the comic has been lost, rejected, or damaged. It may simply mean that the book is no longer considered an active copy under its former certification. Once the process is complete, CGC can issue a new label, a new certification number, and a new recorded grade.
The final grade is not guaranteed to remain the same. A successful press may improve the appearance of certain non-color-breaking defects, but the grading team still makes a new assessment of the comic’s overall condition.
Encapsulation and Preservation
Encapsulation can be an important part of a comic-book preservation strategy, particularly for valuable, historically important, or fragile books. It reduces direct handling and provides a rigid protective enclosure for display and storage.
However, encapsulation does not stop the natural aging of comic-book paper. It also does not replace appropriate environmental conditions. Slabbed comics should still be stored away from:
- Direct sunlight.
- Excessive heat.
- High humidity.
- Rapid temperature changes.
- Water and flooding risks.
- Crushing pressure.
- Repeated dropping or rough handling.
A CGC holder is protective, but it should not be treated as a complete environmental-preservation system. The condition of the comic still depends on the quality of the paper, previous storage conditions, and the environment in which the holder is kept.
CGC Encapsulation Today
Today’s CGC holder reflects more than two decades of development. The company has continued to modify its holders and labels for improved display, protection, security, and preservation.
The basic purpose remains the same as it was at the beginning:
- Authenticate and examine the comic.
- Assign a condition grade.
- Record identifying information.
- Place the comic in a protective inner well.
- Seal it inside a tamper-evident holder.
- Provide a certification record that can be referenced over time.
Older CGC slabs remain an important part of comic-book collecting history. Their labels and holder designs document how third-party certification developed from a new concept in 2000 into an established part of the modern comic-book marketplace.
Information about CGC’s founding, early label colors, holder development, and label changes is based on CGC’s official history and company materials: CGC’s 25th Anniversary Timeline and About CGC.
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