Grading

Vinyl Record

Sleeve/Cover

Mint

The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality

The cover is in perfect condition

Excellent

The record shows some signs of having been played but there is very little lessening in sound quality

The cover might have slight wear and/or creasing

Very Good

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and light scratches

Normal wear and tear on the cover and sleeve, without any major defects, is acceptable

Good

The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and scratches

The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc

Fair

The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump

The cover will be torn, stained and/or badly defaced