Our Condition Grading Scale
Mint
Items in Mint condition will often be, in some ways,
superior to New items. Whereas New, unopened items sometimes conceal
factory flaws in workmanship or materials, Mint used items have been
carefully inspected and each component is flawlessly formed and free
of marks of any kind. Generally, each part will represent the ideal
as would be expected from a New product. The Mint designation is,
however, slightly flexible when speaking of items several decades of
age. Some types of materials have a natural aging process, and items
that display the absolute minimum of normal aging will be acceptable
as Mint. Mint used items bearing paint, silkscreened printing, and
the like will have all of the color and vividness of the best New
product. Mint is usually the most desired condition for collectors
in the Used category. All pieces should be extremely clean, as New.
Near Mint
Near Mint condition indicates an item that is very close
to the high standards of Mint. Near Mint allows slightly more
flexibility in the area of marking (very shallow scratch, small
dig). However, if there is any marking present, it should be only at
such a subtle level that it would require strong lighting and
possibly magnification in order to detect. In addition, printing or
paint standard on the item may be slightly less bright than Mint
items. All components should be extremely clean.
Excellent
Used items in Excellent condition relax the standard
slightly farther, while still ensuring that the piece is of
extremely collectible quality. Vintage items in Excellent condition
may feature very light wear consistent with careful use over time.
Paint or printed patterns on components or face plates may have been
slightly affected by normal skin oils and thus lightly faded or
discolored - especially metallic inks. As with all of the above, the
older the item, the more leeway should be given.
Very Good
Collectibles in Very Good used condition compromise in
one or only a handful of small details versus items in Excellent
condition. A typical item in Very Good condition will have many
component parts that range from Excellent to Mint condition, with
minor scuffing, chewing, folding, or very limited and purely
cosmetic breakage in an extremely minor, nearly invisible area of
the product. Alternatively, inks or paints present on a New item may
be entirely missing in a single area of limited size. Every surface
of the product should be very clean, with at most only the slightest
sign that there may have been some dust on the product in the past.
Again as with all of the above, the older the item, the more leeway
should be given.
Good
With items in Good condition, unless approximately 30
years old or more, serious collectors may wish to seek out a higher
grade. Good condition indicates that up to half of the component
parts of the product may feature some level of scoring, scuffing,
scratching, digging, etc., consistent with normal household use.
Breakage, if present, will be minor and limited to a small area or a
small percentage of components not affecting normal function of the
article. Patterned items printed or painted may feature extensive
fading to the point of being difficult to make out. Books in Good
condition will have been read more than once. However, all items
classified as Good condition will be clean and free of debris. In
the case of sets, all pieces should be present and exactly correct
per the factory specifications of color and pattern, as is the case
with all condition ratings above.
Fair
Vintage items classified as Fair will feature wear
consistent with regular and sustained use. Toys, in particular, if
played with by children or youths, will be typically of Fair
quality. Fair condition items will normally showcase a moderate
level of wear and tear, but still remain usable. Extensive cleaning
swirls, bent, rounded or chipped corners, controls that perhaps have
replaced or substituted knobs or levers, sets with color-substituted
pieces, moderate chewing, deep scoring and scuffing up to 1mm in
depth are all allowable at the Fair condition rating. In the case of
books, the spine may have some looseness or a crack in the middle
when the book lays flat on a table, or if stapled, one staple may
have worn through a few pages. Slight dust is allowable at the Fair
rating. In the case of sets, such as LEGO, all of the pieces should
be of the correct type, with only a very small percentage of pieces
substituted for a different color than that specified by the factory.
Poor
Many everyday items from half a century ago will feature
this level of condition. Classic items at the Poor condition rating
level will display signs of rougher-than-normal use or handling over
a long period of time. Items of Poor condition may be of untested
functionality and likely to have problems working as expected.
Electronics in particular may need the attentions of a skilled
technician in order to become workable. Some restoration work is the
norm for any item in this classification. Toys, including LEGO sets
in Poor condition will feature several un-usable or missing pieces,
with many of those pieces present being of below-average quality
(heavy teething, soiling, pet activity). Sets or lots will often
additionally include mixed, non-related junk items.
Very Poor
Generally speaking, items of Very Poor condition will be
difficult to restore to acceptable usability. This is the converse
of Mint. Items will potentially feature severe odors, health
concerns, heavy soiling, chipping, breakage, smashing, and extremely
rounded-off corners, among other problems. Sets of items will be
missing up to half of the pieces shipped from the factory. Printed
patterns will typically be lost under layers of grime and wear.
Functionality is virtually guaranteed to be non-working.