While every effort is made to grade each and every card correctly, on occasion a card will slip by. Please understand that if this happens, it certainly is not intentional, and we will do all in our power to correct the error.

M – MINT Condition. A card that appears just as it did when issued. If we grade a card in this condition you can be sure it will have no dings, marks, creases, printers errors etc. It will also not contain a message in writing of any kind.

NM – NEAR MINT condition. Our near mint cards will be close to the mint description with the exception that it may have some very slight aging in color. It may contain factory printing defects, misspelling and a light pencil notation on the back.

EX – EXCELLENT Condition. A nice looking card. May have a written message on the address side of the card. One or two corners may show the slightest of touch wear. No bends, no creases, no heavy cancellation bleed thru to the front. A nice crisp card.

VG – VERY GOOD condition. A very good condition card may have corners that have some noticeable wear. They may be starting to round, or have a slight bump on 1-3 corners. Overall the card is still very nice, the image appears fresh, and there are no bad creases or bends. I may allow a small pressure crease if the rest of the card is outstanding but I will try to describe it. An address or postal mark is fine.

G – GOOD Condition. This card will have some noticeable wear; the corners will be rounding or bumped all on all sides. It may have a very heavy cancel that has bled through to the front side. It may have writing on the front of the card. A crease or bend is allowed and will be described.

F – FAIR Condition. Not a card I prefer to sell, and often will only do so if the image is one I find that makes me smile or it may make you smile in spite of its condition. Creases, bends, rounded or bumped corners, heavy cancels, soiling, and writing on the face are just some of the problems this card may have.

OTHER ABREVIATIONS

UDB – UNDIVIDED BACK postcard. Usually dating from 1901 – 1907

DB – DIVIDED BACK postcard. Dating from 1907 – 1915

WB – WHITE BORDERED postcard. Dating 1916 – 1930

L – LINEN postcard. Dating 1930 – 1945

HTL – HOLD TO LIGHT postcard. A card that when held to light accents the card.

RPPC – REAL PHOTO POSTCARD. A card that is an actual photograph produced on photo paper and with a postcard back.

PUBL – PUBLISHER. The publisher of the card and state.

The above abbreviations are the ones we most commonly use. Most other abbreviations commonly used by postcard dealers are not used, as many of the cards we sell are not to those familiar with deltiology and its many specifics.

DATING GUIDE FOR REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS

If you find or are buying a real photo postcard, (RPPC) be sure it is a RPPC by looking closely at the image. If it contains little dots it is merely a printed photograph as in a magazine. A RPPC will have not dots.

You can roughly date the age of a RPPC by knowing when the manufacturer used certain information in its stamp box on the address side of the card. The chart below will assist you with dating your RPPC. The chart is in alphabetical order.