Grading

My grading is similar to the Record Collector grading.
But: Record is graded first, the sleeve/cover second (in case of CD's or MC's this means text-booklet respectively insert - plastic boxes can be very easy replaced!)
m mint, new
n near mint, nearly new
e excellent, few signs of usage
v very good, signs of usage
g good, strong used
f fair, wrecked
Example:
m/e means new record in a slightly used cover!
Used Abbreviations:
Acetate Record made from vinylacetate (very rare, early testpressing with limited edition of around 5 to 10 pieces)
Autographed Original-Autograph(s) on cover
Bootleg Not licensed recording (usually from concerts, often recorded from the auditorium)
Club Club-edition (sometimes different to the regular release, different cover or different titles and so on)
Cmp Compilation (Sampler)
CO Cut-Out (usually a deleted record, with a hole or a cut in the cover)
CSl Company-Sleeve
Dbl 2 records (e.g. double-LP or -CD)
DifC Different cover (in relation to the regular german pressing respectively the most common pressing if no german pressing exist)
DMM Digital Metal Mastering (high quality production method for vinyl-records)
DOC Damage On Cover (description in brackets)
DOL Damage On Label (description in brackets)
DOR Damage On Record (description in brackets)
FOC Fold Out-Cover
Freebie Free record (often as gift in music-magazines or newspapers)
Gimmick Gimmick-Cover (like Jethro Tull's LP "Stand Up" or the Rolling Stones LP "Sticky Fingers")
GrPr At least one Title from Grand Prix D'Eurovision
Halfspeed First rate cutting-process for vinyl-records (the rotation of the press-matrix has only half of the normal speed)
HIC Hole in Cover
Interview Record includes an interview
Lim.Ed. Limited Edition (Number of records in brackets if known)
Lim.num.Ed. Limited, numbered Edition (Number/Number of records in brackets if known)
MBC Record must be cleaned
Multi-FOC multiple Fold Out-Cover
NC No Cover
NTri No Triangle (without centre)
O.S.T. Original-Soundtrack
PicCD CD with picture on
PicDisc Picture-Disc (record with picture on)
PicShape Picture-Shape (Picture-Disc in unusual form)
Picture-Postcard playable postcard (usually in East Europe in former times available)
Poster-Sleeve Poster-Cover
Private Private pressing
Promo Promotional Record
Promo-Back Cover-Backside with informations about the artist
Promo-Insert Info-Sheet from the record-company
PSl Like CSl, but with picture of artist
Quadro Quadrophonic Recording
RI Reissue
Serie ... Record, which was released in an oldie-series ("..." is the name of this series)
SSplt Seamsplit
ST Soundtrack
StOC Sticker On Cover
StOL Sticker On Label
TOC Tape On Cove
Tpl 3 records
V.A. Various Artists (Sampler, Compilation, Kopplung)
WOC Writing On Cover
WOL Writing On Label
Small letters in front should translated as follows:
s small
b big
Small letters after have the following meaning:
f front
b back
An easy example:
sStOCf signs the presence of a small sticker on front of the record cover
bWOCb state out, that there is a big handwriting on the back of the cover
Big letters in brackets after songtitles have the following meanings: (E) Edited Version, (I) Instrumental Version, (L) Live-Recording, (R) Remix and (X) Extended Version!

Record Collector's Grading System

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.
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EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.
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VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.
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GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.
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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 and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.
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POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.
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BAD: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.
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CDs & CASSETTES: As a general rule, CDs and cassettes either play perfectly - in which case they are in Mint condition - or they don't, in which case their value is minimal. Cassette tape is liable to deteriorate with age, even if it remains unplayed, so care should be taken when buying old tapes. CDs are difficult to grade visually: they can look perfect but actually be faulty, while in other cases they may appear damaged but still play perfectly. Cassette and CD inlays and booklets should be graded in the same way as record covers and sleeves. In general, the plastic containers for cassettes and CDs can easily be replaced if they are broken or scratched, but card covers and digipaks are subject to the same wear as record sleeves

Shipping Costs

Grading

Record Collector's Grading System

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If you're searching for records, CDs or something made from paper: you are welcome!