Countless collections of comic books have surfaced over the years. Some of these collections only include a handful of comics, while others contain thousands. Every now and then, a collection is found that is so exceptional that it becomes recognized as a pedigree.

The Edgar Church/Mile High find was the first original owner collection to ever be called a pedigree.

Though this collection isn't the oldest in existence, it remains the most famous pedigree in the hobby today and is the reason collectors started to call certain collections pedigrees.

CGC currently recognizes 61 pedigree collections. If you are the current owner of an exceptional comic book collection, CGC is more than happy to discuss the potential pedigree status with you. Please feel free to call and ask to speak with a Pedigree Specialist.

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Pedigree Label (Gold)

This label is applied to any comic book that is part of a CGC recognized pedigree collection.

CGC Recognized Pedigrees

Gaines

This pedigree is quite unique because it was amassed by Bill Gaines, the actual creator of the comics themselves. Gaines was the son of Max Gaines, a pioneer of the modern comic book, and rebranded his father's line of EC comics in the '50s, which reached a zenith in comic book art and storytelling that helped establish the collecting community in the '60s. He stored away 12 copies of every EC comic book he published between 1950 and 1955, placing them in brown paper wrappers. The collection was ceremoniously brought to market in 1992, only one year before his death. The comics have no distinctive markings, but each was sold with a certificate and they are easily identifiable by their pristine condition.

Disclaimer: The purchase of an uncertified pedigree book from any collector or dealer does not obligate CGC to recognize the book in question as a pedigree copy.