RecordSS: Still sealed: Record is in its original seal and has not been played.
EX: Excellent. The record has no marks or audible faults. It has been played, but well taken care of.
VG++: Very good plus plus. The record has been played regularly, but relatively carefully. There may be visual marks on the disc that are beginning to sound eg faint crackles on one or two tracks.
VG+: Very good plus. The record has been played regularly and is showing signs of wear . There will be visual marks, and surface scratches, thus there will be minor audible pop and crackles, but nothing serious.
VG: Very good. The record has been played many times, affecting the sound quality with pops and crackles, because of surface scratches and wear. Will be intrusive if the music is quiet, but will play.
VG- : Very good minus. The record has been played so much that the sound quality has begun to deteriorate from scratches, played with a poor needle or having been played obsessively.
G: Good. The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, possibly with distortion, or loud clicks from scratches.
F: Fair. Seriously damaged.
Cover
SS: Still sealed. All new, never played. Can still have a coh or cc (see below)
EX: Practically as new. Completely clean.
VG++: Can include minor bending, slight visible ring wear, minor splits, name written on sleeve. Normal wear and tear, but no damage to the visual beauty of the sleeve.
VG+: Sleeve wear is beginning to detract from cover art. Can include creasing and/or splits, and ringwear.
VG: Sleeve intact, but showing major signs of wear and tear (as mentioned above).
VG-: Major/noticeable wear, but no part of sleeve missing, some parts maybe worn. Can include splitting, ring wear, writing on sleeve, major creasing, staining.
Cover condition and extras abbreviations
cc : cut corner
co : cut-out
coh : cut-out hole
hol : hole in label
is : inner sleeve
ins : insert
rw : ring wear (can be light or medium. if it's heavy, it will be noted)
shw : shrink wrap
soc : sticker on cover
sol : sticker on label
sr : sticker remains (glue)
ssp : seam split
stn : stain
stoc : stamp on cover
stol : stamp on label
taac : tape all around cover
toc : tape on cover
tos : tape on spine
troc : tear on cover
tros : tear on spine
wd : water damage
wkoc : wrinkle on cover or corner
woc : writing on cover
wol : writing on label
NB - all the conditions related to the back cover, will be indicated as "obc". for example a sticker on the back cover will be "sobc", writing on back cover will be "wobc", and so on.
If the above policy leaves any doubts, please refer to GEMM's generally accepted Grading Standard