The Complete Guide to CGC Grading Labels
CGC uses a color-coded label system that tells collectors at a glance exactly what they're looking at — the grade, whether restoration was detected, and how it was authenticated. Understanding these labels is essential before you bid on any slabbed comic, card, or cover on eBay.
Two CGC 9.8s with different label colors can have wildly different values. A blue label 9.8 might sell for 3× what a green label 9.8 of the same book fetches.
Universal Blue Label
The blue label is CGC's standard grade for unrestored comics and cards. It means the item has been examined, graded on a 10-point scale, and certified as unaltered. This is what most collectors want. A blue label CGC 9.8 carries the most liquidity and the highest resale value relative to other label types.
Yellow Qualified Label
A yellow label means something prevented a full grade — typically a missing centerfold, a Marvel Value Stamp that's been clipped, or another missing piece. The item is still certified and authenticated, but the grade reflects the incomplete state.
Yellow labels trade at a steep discount. Buyers often overpay on eBay when they don't know what the label color means. Use Collect Detect to cross-check sold comps before bidding.
"A yellow label isn't a bad label — it's just a different market. Know which one you're in."
Green Restored Label
Green labels are for comics that show evidence of restoration — trimming, cleaning, pressing, or color touch. CGC grades the restoration on a scale from A (slight) to C (extensive). A restored book can still be collectible and valuable, but it will always trade below its unrestored equivalent. The key is transparency: a CGC green label means you know exactly what you have.
Purple Signature Series Label
Purple labels indicate that a creator's signature was witnessed by a CGC representative and is therefore guaranteed authentic. These typically carry a premium over unsigned copies of the same issue and grade. The signature and signer are documented on the label itself. Collect Detect displays label type inline when you pull a cert — so you don't have to zoom into a listing photo to figure out what color it is.
Gold Pristine Label
CGC introduced the Pristine 10 label — often displayed in gold — for comics and cards that score a perfect 10 with no manufacturing defects whatsoever. This is distinct from a regular CGC 10, which allows for minor defects within grading tolerances. Pristine 10s are rare and carry significant premiums.
| Label Color | Meaning | Value Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Unrestored, standard grade | Full market value |
| Yellow | Qualified — incomplete item | Significant discount |
| Green | Restored — altered item | Below unrestored comps |
| Purple | Signature Series — witnessed sig | Premium over unsigned |
| Gold | Pristine 10 — no manufacturing defects | Major premium over CGC 10 |
When Collect Detect detects a CGC cert from an eBay listing image, it pulls the grade, census data, and label type — so you always know what color you're looking at before you bid.