Comics & Graphic Novels

Manga: What to Record

Japanese comics and their editions, by volume.

The Data Sheet for Manga

The 31 fields worth recording for manga, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to manga.

Identification

Publisher Text Comics & graphic novels
Publisher or imprint, e.g. Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Dupuis, Shueisha.
Series Text Comics & graphic novels
Series title with volume where needed, e.g. The Amazing Spider-Man (1963).
Issue number Text Comics & graphic novels
Issue or volume number as printed, e.g. 129, 1/2, Annual 3.
Title Text Comics & graphic novels
The title or name the object is known by, as given by its maker, publisher or catalogue.
Cover date Text Comics & graphic novels
Cover date as printed, e.g. February 1974.
Cover / variant Text Comics & graphic novels
Cover variant, e.g. Cover A, 1:25 ratio variant, newsstand edition, virgin cover, price variant.
Key issue Text Comics & graphic novels
Why the issue matters, e.g. first appearance of the Punisher, origin story, death of a character.
Reference link Link Comics & graphic novels
Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).
Language Text
Language of the text.
Obi / extras Text
Obi strip, slipcase, bookplate (ex-libris), print or other extras that came with the book.

Creators

Writer Text Comics & graphic novels
Writer or writers.
Artist Text Comics & graphic novels
Penciller and inker; cover artist if different.

Grading

Condition on the 10-point scale and the grading holder.

Grade Choice Comics & graphic novels
Grade on the 10-point scale of CGC and CBCS (Overstreet terms); for ungraded books your own estimate.
25 choices
  • 10.0 Gem Mint
  • 9.9 Mint
  • 9.8 NM/M
  • 9.6 NM+
  • 9.4 NM
  • 9.2 NM-
  • 9.0 VF/NM
  • 8.5 VF+
  • 8.0 VF
  • 7.5 VF-
  • 7.0 FN/VF
  • 6.5 FN+
  • 6.0 FN
  • 5.5 FN-
  • 5.0 VG/FN
  • 4.5 VG+
  • 4.0 VG
  • 3.5 VG-
  • 3.0 G/VG
  • 2.5 G+
  • 2.0 G
  • 1.8 G-
  • 1.5 FR/G
  • 1.0 FR
  • 0.5 PR
Grading service Choice, or your own Comics & graphic novels
Service that graded and encapsulated the book.
  • CGC
  • CBCS
  • PGX
  • Not graded (raw)
Certification number Text Comics & graphic novels
Number on the grading holder (slab) or authentication certificate, to look it up in the service's database.
Label type Choice, or your own Comics & graphic novels
Label colour of the CGC holder, telling whether the book is unaltered, signed, restored or has a qualifying defect.
  • Universal (blue)
  • Signature Series (yellow)
  • Qualified (green)
  • Restored (purple)
  • Conserved (grey)
  • Not applicable
Page quality Choice Comics & graphic novels
Colour and suppleness of the interior pages as noted by the grading services.
  • White
  • Off-white to white
  • Off-white
  • Cream to off-white
  • Cream
  • Light tan to cream
  • Light tan
  • Tan to light tan
  • Tan
  • Brittle
Signed by Text Comics & graphic novels
Who signed the book, with witness (e.g. CGC Signature Series) if any.

Condition

Condition notes Text Comics & graphic novels
Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Restoration & repairs Text Comics & graphic novels
Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Comics & graphic novels
Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own Comics & graphic novels
How the object came into the collection.
  • Purchase
  • Auction
  • Gift
  • Inheritance
  • Exchange / trade
  • Self-collected / found
  • Commission
Acquired from Text Comics & graphic novels
Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount Comics & graphic novels
Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text Comics & graphic novels
Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Comics & graphic novels
Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date Comics & graphic novels
Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice Comics & graphic novels
What the estimated value is based on.
  • Own estimate
  • Recent sales / auction results
  • Dealer offer
  • Catalogue value
  • Professional appraisal
  • Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount Comics & graphic novels
Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Comics & graphic novels
Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text Comics & graphic novels
Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.

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Updated October 24, 2026