The Obi, the paper band wrapped around a Japanese manga volume, is part of what makes a first print complete. A wrong Obi, taken from another printing or another volume, changes the value of the book. Here is a simple way to check it using the BGS Price Tracker.
For more about the risks, see the article Beware of Wrong Obi on 1st Print Manga on eBay.
Step 1: Filter by series, volume and Obi
In the BGS Price Tracker, enter the series to check, choose the volume, and set the Obi filter to With Obi. Only the sold copies of that exact volume that come with their Obi are then displayed.
Step 2: Open the photos and compare
In the Sales History list, click on the photos of the sold copies and look at the Obi on each one. Compare it with the Obi of the book being checked: artwork, colors, text and layout.
Example: a sold copy of Naruto volume 1 with its Obi, opened from the Sales History.
Step 3: Look for consistency
If the Obi looks the same as on all the other sold copies in the list, it is a good indicator that it is the right one and that there is no mistake. If it clearly differs from the others, a closer look is needed before buying, and asking the seller for more photos is recommended.
This method is a strong indicator, not a guarantee. It relies on comparing many real sales, which makes an odd one out easy to spot.
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