Please note all board and card games are complete unless otherwise stated.
The numeric system:
The categories are fourfold. Any less would not cover the wide range of condition merits and faults that are exhibited in the typical vintage board and card games. Any more and the difficulty would be in drawing meaningful, strong, differential boundaries between the grades! Game grading is far from easy as it remains a subjective area and there is no universally accepted scale on which to base a grading. However, we have over 25 years’ experience in buying and selling vintage and collectible games for resale in store and online. As such, we believe we’ve amassed the necessary experience to grade accurately and provide a basis for consistent and fair valuation. The grades are as follows:
Grade 4:
The game shows signs of extensive use or poor storage, or both. Board games may have broken corners, scratches penetrating the printed areas, stains, cracks, handwritten notes, repairs with inadequate tape or glue, photocopied rules, and damage from careless storage. Card games might be missing tabs and have worn corners, but the main box will usually be intact.
Grade 3:
Minor wear and tear may be visible, but there will be no scratches or cuts on the original surfaces. Some corners may have been repaired using materials like Copydex with tissue paper or Magic Scotch Tape. Replacement dice, counters, and spinners could be included. Paper components, such as game money, will generally be intact, though may show light creasing or dog-eared corners. Boxes from before 1980, often made of thin card, may exhibit dents. Scoring pads might be missing. Graffiti indicating ownership may be found inside the box. Original rules may be included or available as photocopies.
Grade 2:
The game is intact and if not complete, provided with suitablle replacements. Paper components are in good condition. Repairs and minor blemishes are acceptable if components are in excellent order. A game might be marked under this grade level if the components are in better condition than the box, as these are more important for the game to be replayed and enjoyed.
Grade 1:
The game is intact with all components not only complete but original to the game. Paper components are in great condition. Invisible repairs are acceptable as are minor blemishes, especially with items over 80 years old. Boxes must be undamaged and structurally sound.
Grade 1+:
The game is in near perfect condition, practically mint. No damage, no graffiti, no repairs and all components are present.
A note on valuations:
All the valuations we give are based on what a good retailer or antiques shop should be selling at. Demand does vary over the years but a few things are worth bearing in mind:
- One person’s childhood memories may add value to a game for decades, but the price may then decline in the next generation as its sentimental value to collectors drops.
- Language and illustrations that would have been entirely acceptable some 50 years ago may well be wholly unacceptable to current generations, inevitably impacting price.
- Wholesale prices should be in the range of 50 to 60% of a likely retail price.
- The obvious issue with comparing prices on sites like Ebay is the lack of opportunity to inspect condition and contents, as imagery can be carefully chosen to hide damage.
