The Railroad Commissary
Welcome to The Railroad Commissary's
grading system page.
Grading system:
(1) = mint to near mint – for those that will only accept the finest
(2) = similar to above, but with very moderate use wear – excellent pieces, a welcome addition to
most any collection
(3) = usually means substantial wear, but may indicate a moderate rear flaw – displays nicely, but
falters with close inspection
(4) = a substantial flaw exists, usually a very minor rim chip, hairline crack, or maybe some
substantial front staining
(5) = one or more major flaws
pieces without any numerical grade are those that defy the grading system. In those cases, you will have to rely
on the description and the photos.
We make no attempt to mention kiln stilt marks (usually three unglazed spots around the underside of most pieces) as
they are nearly ubiquitous - indeed, universal for the pieces that are so made.
This system is not meant to accurately descibe the piece, but a quick evaluation of the overall condition of a piece, so that unsuitable pieces can be scanned over quickly. This grading effects price more than anything else.
