MY GRADING SYSTEM

I try to be fair and honest in my grading, and make every attempt to mention loose or cut pages, stains, tears, binding damage, etc.  Sometimes I find that a magazine falls between two grades, in which case I will list it with a two-grade scale.  I try to mention any extreme staple pulls; subscription labels may be present; may be marks on several listings and crossword puzzles may be worked, but I do try to make a note of this in my listings when I spot such things.

NEAR MINT - MINT: I rarely use these grades, except when a magazine is in truly exceptional condition.

VERY FINE: very nice with virtually no major defects.

FINE+: an even nicer copy, with minimal obvious defects.

FINE: a nice copy, flat with minor creases; may have some spine stress, but no prominent defects.

FINE-: better than VG+ but just a bit short of what I would consider Fine.

VERY GOOD+: many of the magazines I list fall into this grade; a typical read magazine with obvious defects as noted; may have writing inside or on the cover.

VERY GOOD: fairly well-read with an accumulation of tears and defects as noted; may be heavily creased or spine-rolled; may have writing inside or on the cover; this is my most often-used condition.

GOOD: a complete but heavily-read magazine; may be missing small pieces of covers; covers may be loose ; rolled spine or other noted damage.

FAIR: a rough magazine, with many defects including tears. missing pieces, water damage, spine wear, etc.

POOR: no missing pages unless noted, but otherwise a pretty trashed magazine; almost any and every damage may be present.