The record in ‘near mint’ or NM condition has been played no more than a few times. It appears glossy and has remained on a shelf between other vinyl.
- Such records don’t have any marks
- The package is complete
- It looks just like it is from a store and you are opening it for the first time
Interestingly, many sellers will not use a higher grade than NM. Most often, NM is the highest grading found with most records. It is occasional to come across an authentic Mint graded vinyl. So if you are looking for the perfect LP, you should search for Near Mint records. They are shiny and don’t have any visible defects. There is no writing, markings, or stickers on the label. They don’t have any ring wear, creases, and seam splits. Besides, they are free from any spindle marks.
Spindle marks appear when the user tries to place the record blindly on the player. NM records are also free from any factory defects. If a record has been pressed off-centre, it cannot have NM grade. When played, it shouldn’t have any surface noise.
At the same time, of course, keep in mind that an NM record doesn’t always mean that it should have never played before. A vinyl that usually plays on a great record player can still be Near Mint after several plays also.