Grading Standards
Mint
Perfect condition, like new. No folds, stains, tears, or pinholes. Bright colors, flawless paper, untouched. Rare and highly collectible.
Near Mint
Almost perfect with minimal signs of handling. Minor edge wear or barely visible corner creases. No tears or stains. Excellent for framing.
Very Fine
Excellent overall condition with light wear. May show original fold lines, tiny pinholes, or soft edge wear. Colors remain vivid, no major flaws. Highly displayable.
Fine
Solid condition with visible wear. Notable fold lines, minor tears (often repaired), edge discoloration or tape marks. Still suitable for display, especially framed.
Very Good
Noticeable but moderate wear. May include light staining, some fold wear, soft corner creases, or minor edge tears. Still decent for display, though less pristine.
Good
Worn condition with visible damage. Heavy fold lines, strong stains or wear marks. May include multiple pinholes, discoloration, or tape residue. Aged look impacts display quality.
Fair
Heavily worn, possibly incomplete. Large tears, strong staining, noticeable paper repairs. Faded colors or paper fragility. Best suited for restoration or budget collections.
Poor
Damaged or incomplete. Missing parts, major tears, severe discoloration. Not suitable for display unless restored. Sold as-is for archival purposes.
List of defaults you can find on vintage posters
Very common
Creases/Folds
Surface deformations (minor or major creases from mishandling or fine fold lines).
Common
Tears
Small or major rips or splits, usually at edges.
Common
Pinholes
Tiny punctures from tacks or pins.
Occasional
Foxing
Small brownish spots caused by mold or metal impurities.
Occasional
Discoloration
Overall yellowing or color fading from light exposure.
Rare
Stains
Spots from liquids, dirt or grease.
Rare
Missing parts
Paper sections torn or cut away.
RARE
Scratches
Light surface scuffs and fine abrasion marks caused by friction—most noticeable on glossy prints and large matte posters, where even slight scratches catch the light.
Rare
Tape damages
Paper fiber loss or tears where tape was removed.
Very rare
Tape residues
Residual adhesive film from tape removal or careless restoration.
Very rare
Indelible marker writings
Permanent pen or marker writings on the front or back of the poster, visible through the paper.