Grading Postcards

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Posted By: martindl

I think the easy answer is to look to the postcard hobby itself. This is Barr's grading scale, used pretty much throughout the hobby.


M - Mint: A perfect card just as it comes from the printing press. No marks, bends or creases. No writing or postmark. A clean and fresh card. Seldom seen.
NM - Near Mint: Like mint, but very very light aging or very slight discoloration from being in an album for many years. Not as fresh looking.
EX - Excellent: Like mint in appearance with no bends or creases, nor rounded or blunt corners. May be postally used or unused and with writing and postmark only on address side. A clean, fresh card onpicture side.
VG - Very Good: Corners may be just a bit blunt or rounded. Almost undetachable crease or bend that does not detract from overall appearance of picture side. May be writing or postally used on address side. A very collectible card.
G - Good: Corners may be noticeably blunt or rounded with noticeably slight bends or creases. May be postally used or writing on address side. Less than VG.
AV - Average: Creases and bends more pronounced. May be writing in margins on picture side. Postmark may show through from address side but not on main portion of picture. Corners more rounded.
PR - Poor: Card is intact. Excess soil, stained, cancel may affect picture with writing on either side. Could be a scarce card hard to find in any condition with heavy creases.
SF - Space Filler: Poor condition as above and may have corners torn or corners missing, etc. and breaks. Least desirable of all of the above.