Shipping:   Records are securely sandwiched between 4 sheets of cardboard and packaged in a 12x12x6 box cushioned by newspaper.

Our 78 records have been test-played on an accurate 78 rpm turntable using a 3 mil sapphire needle.  Each one is also checked out under a high intensity light bulb.

Grading Scale

Vinyl / Shellac:

M (Mint):  Appears to be as close to factory  fresh as you will find with 78’s.  Opened and played, but perfect or very close in all details.

NM- (Near Mint Minus):  A few minor flaws with just occasional light scuffing, with occasional minor surface noise - nothing that detracts.

VG+ (Very Good Plus):  Sounds and looks like it was taken care of.  May have light scuffing or very light scratches that are typical of older records. Will have minor surface noise.

VG (Very Good):  Noticeable surface noise is evident, especially in softer passages and during the song’s introduction and fade out.  Groove wear starts to be noticeable as do light and occasionally moderate scratches.  There is perhaps some slight warping and/or dulling of the surface or minor staining.  No skipping or jump-backs.

VG- (Very Good Minus):  In worse shape than VG, better than G+.  Has noticeable problems.

G+ (Good Plus):  Significant surface noise and scratching.  Visible groove wear.  Perhaps  some warping that doesn’t affect play.  Some dulling.  No skipping or jump-backs.

G (Good):  Some of the above are noticeably worse.  If it has scratches, they are more pronounced.  May have a very occasional skip or jump-back.

F/P (Fair/Poor):  I would only sell (vs. throw away) a record with this grading if it were rare or highly unusual to the point that someone might want it purely as a “filler”.   All of the above areas of concern are present and noticeable.  Has irritating skips/jump-backs and/or terrible noise.

Labels:

M (Mint):  Appears to be factory fresh.  Opened, but perfect or very close to perfect in all details.

NM (Near Mint):  Only very small signs that it was played.  Bright, very clean, and minimal (almost no) marks on the record.

NM- (Near Mint Minus):  Minor and just occasional signs of light wear.  No writing, tape marks of other types of applied marking.

VG+ (Very Good Plus):  May have a some minor ring wear or discoloration.  May be a very minor sign or two of applied marking.

VG (Very Good):  Label wear is more pronounced but not major.  May have some light scuffing or scratching, perhaps some light fading, perhaps a minor tear or two.  May be marred by more noticeable light writing or tape/tape residue.

VG- (Very Good Minus):  In worse shape than VG, better than G+.  Has noticeable problems.

G+ (Good Plus):  Has scratches or scrapes, pronounced fading, perhaps some discoloration.  Center hole may be a little out of round.

G (Good):   Some of the above are noticeably worse.  Barely readable and/or unreadable in places.

F/P:  (Fair/Poor):  For a label to be worse than what is described above in the “G” listings, the vinyl/shellac would inevitably in terrible condition as well.  See notes for this grading above in the vinyl/shellac category.

Sleeves (applies to company/advertising sleeves only, not generic sleeves):

M (Mint):  Appears to be factory fresh.  Opened but perfect in all details (this virtually does not exist).

NM (Near Mint):  Nearly perfect.  Perhaps a very small amount of very light scuffing and/or very light and minimal scuffing.  May have one small dogged corner or another sign of slight handling.

NM- (Near Mint Minus):  Light wrinkling/folding/bending.  No tearing or seam splits.  No fading.

VG+ (Very Good Plus):  Some increased wrinkling/folding/bending.  Increased signs of overall wear, which may be displayed as lightly turned up corners or a small tear or small and partial seam split.  May have a little fading or discoloration.

VG (Very Good):  Increased and more noticeable as very wrinkled/folded/bent.  Minor to moderate tears/splits.  Perhaps some staining.

VG- (Very Good Minus):  In worse shape than VG, better than G+.  Has noticeable problems.  One or two aspects of wear are serious.

G+ (Good Plus):  More extreme wear in any/all of the categories above.

F/P (Fair/Poor):  Trash.  I wouldn’t include it unless it was particularly rare.

Covers/Jackets (Applies to album covers, front and back, and inset sleeves only in complete albums).

M (Mint):  Appears to be factory fresh.  Opened but perfect in all details

NM (Near Mint):  Nearly perfect.  Perhaps a very small amount of very light bend marks and/or very light and minimal scuffing.  Intact sleeves meet the requirements for NM individual sleeves above.

NM- (Near Mint Minus):  Light marking/scuffing.  No tearing.  May have one or two small, light bend marks.  Intact sleeves meet the requirements for NM- individual sleeves above.

VG+ (Very Good Plus):  Some increased marking/scuffing/bending.  Increased signs of overall wear.  May have a little fading or discoloration.  Can have a very small tear or two.  Intact sleeves meet the requirements for VG+ individual sleeves above.

VG (Very Good):  Increased flaws as noted above.  May have some light damage (which would be described).  Intact sleeves meet the requirements for individual sleeves above.

VG- (Very Good Minus):  In wore shape than VG, better than G+.  Has noticeable problems.  One or two aspects of wear on the cover or intact sleeves are serious.

G+ (Good Plus):  More extreme wear in any/all of the categories.  It’s pretty much junk and would only be a filler for a desired album.

F/P (Fair/Poor):  Trash.  I wouldn’t pass it along unless it was particularly rare.