What do CGC label colours mean?
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Short answerThe colour of a CGC label tells you what kind of grade you are looking at before you read a word: blue (Universal) means an unrestored book graded on its own merits, yellow (Signature Series) means a signature witnessed by CGC, purple (Restored) means the book has been repaired or altered, and green (Qualified) means one significant defect has been set aside from the grade.
Blue — Universal
The standard label. The book was found to be unrestored and the grade reflects its condition as it stands. This is the label most collectors want and the one that anchors market prices. When people quote a price for a book "in 9.8", they mean a blue label unless they say otherwise.
Yellow — Signature Series
The book was signed in the presence of a CGC-authorised witness and then graded. The label names the signer. Because the witness confirms the signature, no separate authentication is needed. A yellow label usually adds value when the signer is a key creator of that issue — Stan Lee on a Silver Age Marvel, for example — and is neutral or negative when the signature is unrelated to the book. See What is a Signature Series comic?.
Purple — Restored
The book has restoration: colour touch, tear seals, replaced pieces, trimming, cleaning with chemicals, re-glossing or married pages. The label states the extent (slight, moderate, extensive) and the quality of the work (A for professional, C for amateur). A restored copy grades on its apparent condition but trades at a large discount to an unrestored copy in the same grade. Details in What does restored mean on a comic label?.
Green — Qualified
A Qualified grade is assigned when a book has one significant defect that would otherwise drag the grade down disproportionately — a missing coupon, a detached cover, a cut-out, or a signature that could not be verified. The grade on a green label describes the book apart from that defect, which is spelled out on the label. Read the note before you value the book. See What is a qualified grade?.
Other notations you will see
- Conserved. A separate CGC designation for books that received conservation work such as tear seals with archival materials or staple replacement, but no cosmetic restoration. It sits between Universal and Restored in the market.
- Pedigree. The name of a famous original-owner collection (Mile High, Pacific Coast, Gaines File and others) printed on the label. Pedigree copies carry a premium.
- Key comments. First appearances, origin stories and creator credits, printed in the lower part of the label.
Why the colour matters for price
Two copies of the same issue with the same number on the label can differ in value by a factor of five or more depending on the colour. Always read the label, not just the grade, and check the certification number on CGC's site if the scan is unclear.
Frequently asked
- Is a purple label always bad?
- Not bad, but different. Restored copies let collectors own a key issue they could never afford unrestored, and professional restoration on a Golden Age book is a legitimate way to preserve it. What matters is that the restoration is disclosed and priced accordingly.
- What colour is a CBCS label?
- CBCS uses blue for unrestored books, yellow for witnessed (Verified) signatures, red for signatures authenticated after the fact, purple for restored copies and green for qualified grades — the same idea as CGC with one extra colour.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.