How we grade condition
Mint/Near Mint
Never set up, or as close as it gets. The graphic is clean and complete; the shape is true.
Mno mounting holes, no wear, shrink-wrap optional.
NMmaybe a faint shelf or rack mark, still unridden.
Excellent/Very Good
Light life.
EXmay have been mounted or barely ridden; the graphic is almost entirely intact; minor edge wear.
VGhonest light use: some graphic wear at the trucks or tail, small chips, still a great wall board.
Good/Fair
Clearly ridden.
Gvisible graphic wear, rail and tail scuffs, the graphic still reads well.
Fheavy wear, chips, possible delam or a pressure crack; bought for the history more than the looks.
Poor
Thrashed, cracked or incomplete. Sometimes the only way to own a certain graphic.
Every listing shows its grade from this scale, plus photos of any flaw.
What we look at
- Graphic: completeness, fading, scratches, truck bite, stickers or residue
- Top: grip (original, replaced, none), mounting holes, stamps, signatures, maker marks
- Nose and tail: chips, razor tail, wear
- Rails and shape: chips, delamination, cracks, warp, lost concave
- Originality: reissue vs original pressing, re-screens, repaint, cut-downs. We say what we can confirm and what we can't.
How we photograph
Every listing needs six photos: a full-silhouette hero of the graphic side, a graphic close-up, the full top, and close-ups of the nose, middle and tail. If it's in the description, it's in the photos. Artifacts are also examined in Long Beach.
The same check is described in How Madera Works.
Grading is our appraiser's opinion from the listing photos. Artifacts are also examined in Long Beach. Two collectors can disagree by a step; if you think we got it wrong, tell us.