Northern Vintage Vinyl — Grading System

We Grade with Precision.
You Shop with Confidence.

Every item in our store is carefully graded using internationally recognised standards — so you know exactly what you're getting before it arrives at your door.

234+ Products in Stock
6 Grade Levels
5 Media Categories

WHAT WE GRADE

Our Categories

Vinyl Records

LPs and full-length vinyl albums

45's

7-inch singles with large center holes

CDs

Compact discs in jewel cases

DVDs

Music and movie DVDs

Comic Books

Vintage and collectible comics

AT A GLANCE

Quick Reference

M
Mint 100%
NM
Near Mint 90%
VG+
Very Good Plus 75%
VG
Very Good 60%
G/G+
Good 40%
F/P
Fair / Poor 20%

Vinyl Records Grading

Grading for LPs and full-length vinyl albums evaluates surface condition, playback quality, and overall wear.

M

Mint

Perfect condition, never played, sealed.

NM

Near Mint

Nearly perfect condition. Likely unplayed. No noticeable imperfections.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Signs of light use. Minor defects.

VG

Very Good

Light surface scratches. Possible static on playback.

G / G+

Good to Good Plus

Visible defects but does not skip during playback.

Sleeve / Jacket Grading

The sleeve or jacket is graded separately from the vinyl, evaluating structural integrity, print quality, and overall condition.

M

Mint

Sleeve is perfect. No flaws or signs of wear.

NM

Near Mint

Almost perfect. Minor edge wear or slight crease.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Some signs of wear. May contain creases or disc wear. Colours are still good.

VG

Very Good

Moderate wear including creasing, disc wear and fading colours. Some water damage may be present.

G / G+

Good to Good Plus

Significant wear or damage.

F / P

Fair to Poor

Heavily worn. Barely usable.

45 RPM Singles Grading

45's are graded using the same system as vinyl LPs, evaluating surface condition and playback quality.

M

Mint

Perfect condition, never played, sealed.

NM

Near Mint

Nearly perfect condition. Likely unplayed. No noticeable imperfections.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Signs of light use. Minor defects.

VG

Very Good

Light surface scratches. Possible static on playback.

G / G+

Good to Good Plus

Visible defects but does not skip during playback.

CD Grading

Grading on CDs looks at surface scratches and scuffs. It does not include cases.

M

Mint

Perfect condition, never played, sealed. No scratches or scuffs on the disc surface.

NM

Near Mint

Nearly perfect. May have very faint surface marks that don't affect playback.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Light surface scratches and scuffs. Plays without issues.

VG

Very Good

Light surface scratches and scuffs. Plays without issues.

G / G+

Good to Good Plus

Significant scratches. Playback may be affected in places.

DVD Grading

DVDs are graded based on surface scratches and scuffs on the disc. Cases are not included in grading.

M

Mint

Perfect condition, never played, sealed. No scratches or scuffs on the disc surface.

NM

Near Mint

Nearly perfect. May have very faint surface marks that don't affect playback.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Light surface scratches and scuffs. Plays without issues.

VG

Very Good

Noticeable scratches and scuffs. May cause minor playback issues.

G / G+

Good to Good Plus

Significant scratches. Playback may be affected in places.

Collectibles

Comic Book Grading Scale

Comics are graded on a unique scale that evaluates overall appearance, structural integrity, and completeness.

NM

Near Mint

A nearly perfect copy that looks brand new with only a few very minor defects.

VG

Very Fine

A VF copy has minor defects but is in overall excellent condition.

VG

Fine

A comic in FN condition is considered "above average" but still displays some wear.

VG

Very Good

A comic in VG condition shows some significant wear.

GD

Good

A GD copy has major defects but is still complete and readable.

FR

Fair

A FR copy will have low eye appeal and will display major damage.

PR

Poor

Comic books in PR condition may be missing up to 4 pages (two spreads) of story or ad pages, or have a completely split spine, or display severe damage that affects the readability of the book.