Grading Standards

  • Mint (M)

    Perfect condition, like new. No folds, stains, tears, or pinholes. Bright colors, flawless paper, untouched. Rare and highly collectible.

  • Near Mint (NM)

    Almost perfect with minimal signs of handling. Minor edge wear or barely visible corner creases. No tears or stains. Excellent for framing.

  • Very Fine (VF)

    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 (F)

    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 (VG)

    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 (G)

    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 (FR)

    Heavily worn, possibly incomplete. Large tears, strong staining, noticeable paper repairs. Faded colors or paper fragility. Best suited for restoration or budget collections.

  • Poor (P)

    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.