Condition and grading: a collector’s glossary
Describe wear, packaging and professional certification separately, using the fields that apply to your collectible.
Choose the condition label that best describes the actual item in its category, then explain the details in the listing. A single label cannot replace photographs. Use clear front and back views and close-ups of the areas that affect your description. State whether accessories and original packaging are included. For a group of items, disclose differences between their conditions instead of applying the best item’s label to the entire group.
Cards
Mint / Near Mint
Strong overall condition. Inspect centering, surface, corners and edges; show small marks instead of relying on the label alone. Neither description assigns a professional grade.
Excellent / Very Good / Played
Descriptions of visible wear or use. Identify whitening, scratches, bends, creases or other damage and photograph them. Their extent matters more than an optimistic condition word.
Sealed
The original product packaging is described as unopened. Show the seals and box, including dents or tears. Packaging damage and the condition of unseen contents are different questions.
Figures and other physical collectibles
New / Sealed
State whether the item has been opened and whether original seals remain. Describe storage damage separately, even for an unused item.
Open Box / Displayed
Explain whether the figure was removed, assembled or displayed. List the box, stand and accessories and photograph paint marks or loosened joints.
Used / Damaged
Describe use, breakage, repairs and missing parts specifically. Show repaired areas and state whether the item functions or stands as intended where relevant.
Comics and books
Mint / Near Mint / Very Fine / Fine
Describe the cover, spine, corners and pages. These seller condition labels are not a numerical CGC grade. Note writing, stains, tears, loose staples or restoration.
Very Good / Good / Used / Reader Copy
Indicate reading wear and any damage or incompleteness. A reader copy should still describe missing pages or covers explicitly; do not assume a label explains every defect.
Sealed
Describe the original unopened packaging and visible condition. Avoid promising the condition of pages you cannot inspect.
Professional grading is a separate attribute
Record the grading company, exact grade, label wording and certification number. Photograph the holder and the item inside it. PSA, Beckett and CGC publish their own standards; compare the applicable scale and category rather than treating all 10s or all labels as interchangeable. Use the company’s official certification lookup where available and compare the returned identity with the physical item. The lookup alone does not establish that the holder in a photograph is genuine. Report holder damage and any known alteration separately.