NM vs VF vs FN vs VG: comic book letter grades explained
Letter grades are bands. NM is roughly 9.2–9.8. VF is roughly 7.5–9.0. A listing that only says VF is not a 9.0.
Letters are bands, numbers are rungs
Dealers and collectors often print a letter — NM, VF, FN, VG — instead of a decimal. That letter is a range, not a pinpoint. Near Mint covers several numbers at the top of the ladder. Very Fine covers a wide middle-high band. If a listing only says VF, it might mean 8.0, 8.5, or 7.5. The honest move is to ask which number, or to grade the photos yourself against the 10-point scale.
This site always reports a number plus a designation (for example 8.0 VF). When you are translating a letter-only listing into a number, pick the lower end of the band unless the photos clearly support the top of it.
How the letters map
These ranges are the common mapping used with the 10-point raw scale. They overlap at the edges on purpose — that is why a 9.0 is VF/NM and a 7.0 is FN/VF. When a book sits on a border, the lower designation is the conservative read.
| Letter | Name | Typical numbers | In short |
|---|---|---|---|
| NM | Near Mint | 9.2–9.8 (9.0 sometimes) | High-grade. Minor wear only. Color breaks usually block the top of this band. |
| VF | Very Fine | 7.5–9.0 | Attractive, moderate defects. Classic VF allows a small non-color-breaking crease. |
| FN | Fine | 5.5–7.0 | A major defect or heavy accumulation. Slight roll possible. Not a “pretty VF.” |
| VG | Very Good | 3.5–5.0 | Average collectible. Splits and small missing pieces may appear. Completeness still matters. |
| GD | Good | 1.8–3.0 | Extensive handling. Larger splits, staining, degraded staples possible. |
| FR | Fair | 1.0–1.5 | Heavy accumulation, significant missing material, brittleness beginning. |
| PR | Poor | 0.5 | Heavily defaced. Extensive loss. May fall apart. |
What people usually mean by NM and VF
NM is the band everyone wants. 9.8 NM/M is nearly perfect with negligible defects and typical Off-White paper or better. 9.6 NM+ still looks very well preserved. 9.4 NM allows minor wear — about a 1/16" non-color-breaking bend, no crease. 9.2 NM− shows some wear. A “raw NM” sticker without a number often means “looks nice,” which is not a grade.
VF is the workhorse band. 8.5 VF+ is still attractive. 8.0 VF is the classic benchmark: a barely noticeable quarter-inch non-color-breaking crease, no missing pieces. 7.5 VF− has more accumulation. Light Tan to Off-White paper cannot exceed 8.5; Tan to Off-White maxes near 7.5. A VF listing with tan pages and a color-breaking spine tick is often Fine once you stop being generous.
Plus, minus, and slash grades
Plus and minus (VF+, NM−) are still letters inside a band. Slash grades (VF/NM, FN/VF, VG/FN) sit on the border. Treat a slash as “not quite the higher letter.” A book offered as VF/NM is a 9.0 conversation, not a 9.4. FN/VF is a 7.0 conversation, not an 8.0.
When photos are ambiguous, do not average the band. Pick the lower number. Color-breaking defects pull a book down through a letter faster than a soft bend of the same length. Page quality can throw a sharp-looking NM cover into VF or Fine before you ever argue about a tick.
Chart estimate for raw condition only — not a professional certification.
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