The Action Figure Authority (AFA) is the first company to offer a toy-grading service in which the graded toy is placed in a sealed acrylic display box. The sealed acrylic box of AFA-graded toys is intended to keep the toy safe from future wear and tear. The label on side or back of an AFA-graded toy placed in a acrylic case contains identifying information for the toy (such as the figure's name, the toyline, etc.), the overall grade given to it by AFA, and where applicable, the three subgrades (box/card, window/bubble, and figure). AFA-grading can be relatively expensive, but it also tends to increase the value of a toy significantly, particularly if it is in good condition and it is either an old toy or a popular character. On eBay, some of the most expensive toys are those that are AFA-graded, selling for as much as several thousand US dollars.
What is CGC? CGC, or the Certified Guaranty Company was the first, impartial, third-party certification service. A division of the NGC, CGC was founded and providing grading service since 1999 with its whopping 5,000,000th book graded in 2018.
Is CGC worth it? Yes! It will provide protection and display-ability to your comic and increase its value both to you and the secondary market. For books that you want to preserve for sentimental or collector reasons, or for high value signed or unsigned books, CGC is the best route.
Investments 101: When buying products such as these you are investing on a Tangible Asset. What Is a Tangible Asset?
A tangible asset is an asset that has a finite monetary value and usually in physical form. Tangible assets can typically always be transacted for monetary value though the liquidity of different markets. its always smart to invest in something physical you can hold as the value of the product goes up.