All Vinyl Covers are Visually Conservatively Graded Under Bright Lights using the Goldmine Grading System Standards

MINT M
These are absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. There is no set percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.

NEAR MINT NM OR M-
A good description of a NM record is ?it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.? In other words, it?s nearly perfect. Many dealers won?t use a grade higher than this, implying perhaps correctly that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any ?spindle marks? from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects also must be absent a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. NM records don?t have to be ?never played? a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.

NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

Very Good Plus VG
A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don t affect one s listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK .
The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.
Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good VG Many of the defects found in a VG record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song s intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail that will affect the sound.
Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers or their residue attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.
Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.
Good G , Good Plus G Good does not mean Bad A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white .
A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.
It is a common item, you ll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it s something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.
Poor P , Fair F The record is cracked, badly warped, and won t play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon.