So let’s talk about CGC labels and what benefits you can perceive to have gained when buying their 3rd party label (opinion).
The simple answer is that your precious comic is now entombed in plastic. With protection from the case, your comic will cease to age at such an alarming rate. This is because CGC encloses each comic it grades with archival paper that help prevent and removes the chemicals that slowly age your book.
And of course now that your comic is in between some hard slabs of plastic it will not bend, thus decreasing chances with spine breaks and tears. This also allows you to display the comic out in the open and not worry about it being regrettably man-handled by a close friend or relative.
But the real question is the difference between the old and new labels. Of course CGC changed it’s labels in 2007 thus leaving numerous copies in an “older” case. The reason for this move by the company was two-fold. One, they wanted to display more information and make the grade a bit LARGER, ending countless hours of fans asking the comic dealer to show them the comic off their wall at comic cons. Two, the new case prevented the comic from getting dinged or bumped while in the case. Apparently there were results showing that if the comic was dislodged while in the case, it would be damaged. This meant a 9.0 might really be a 6.0 after it gets bent around the edges while in the old CGC case.
Add to all of this the rumors that grading was particularly stronger during this time period and you have yourself a perfect speculation bubble. There are collectors who have bought lower graded comics, pressed them (these comics were pressed free during the “OLD” labels time because it didn’t exists) and resubmitted them for substantial grade bumps. Flipped and repeated.
So a phrase was born and stands as true now as it did in 2007. Buy the comic and not the grade!
Stay knowledgeable my friends!
Lyria Comic Exchange 