Grading Rules

 

Train Collectors Association Description/Grading Standards

 

TCA DESCRIPTION / GRADING STANDARDS

All description standards are mainly in regard to condition of finish. This should be kept constantly in mind.
 
 In all categories except MINT or LIKE NEW, parts can and may be missing. Any such missing parts must be noted when describing the piece. Also any replacement parts must be noted, or exceptions to the stated  category.
 
 All restored or refinished items are to be so stated. Note that the standards apply to ORIGINAL ITEMS. No grade above EXCELLENT can apply to a refinished piece.
 
 All restored or refinished items are to be marked as such. For this marking, the Association furnishes pressure-sensitive labels to members, free of charge, to affix to restored and refinished equipment. These labels are available through the Business Office.
 
 TCA DESCRIPTION / PAPER. GRADING STANDARDS
 
 MINT - Human hands have touched Item since leaving original factory. Individual pages are assumed to have been never opened. All edges are crisp and paper is free of all flaws. Original paper folds are crisp with no signs of damage. No rusty stapes, tears, or wear marks are present.
 
 NEW - Item has been touched by human hands since leaving original factory. Individual pages have been opened. All edges are crisp and paper is free of all flaws Original paper folds are crisp with no signs of damage if folded by factory, not unfolded. No rusty staples, creases, tears, or wear marks are present. ITEM MAY HAVE STORE OR DEALER STAMP APPROPRIATELY APPLIED.
 
 LIKE NEW - Human hands have touched Item since leaving original factory. Individual pages have been opened. All edges are crisp and paper is free of all flaws Original paper folds are crisp with no signs of damage No rusty staples, creases, tears, or wear marks are present. NOTATIONS FROM AN AUCTION
 DEALER, CLUB MEMBER ON THE COVER OR INTERIOR PAGE MAY BE PRESENT.
 
 EXCELLENT - Item show signs of moderate usage and is 100% intact. All edges are crisp and paper is free of all flaws. Original paper folds show minute signs of damage. There might be some evidence of bending and folding or unfolding if originally factory folded. No creases, tears, or wear marks are present.

 ITEM MAY HAVE RUSTY STAPLES WHICH HAVE NOT AFFECTED THE PAPER. Item may have store or dealer stamp appropriately applied.
 
 VERY GOOD - Item shows signs of usage and is 100% intact, edges are minutely damaged. Original paper folds show signs of damage. Item may show additional (unoriginal) fold or “dog-eared” page(s). Page(s) have tears. Such tears greater than two inches maybe closed with transparent tape. All printed material is legible; however, PAPER MAY HAVE WEAR MARKS WEATHERING, UNORIGINAL PENCIL OR INK MARKS, OR A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE ON THE PAPER SUCH AS RUST, GREASE, OIL, ETC.) WHICH MINUTELY EXTENDS INTO THE PRINTED MATERIAL OR IS CONFINED TO THE UNPRINTED AREAS OF THE PAPER.
 
 GOOD - Item shows high signs of usage. Page(s) may be missing or loose and shall be noted. Edges may be damaged. Original paper folds are heavily damaged Item may show an additional (unoriginal) fold or “dog-eared” page(s). Page(s) have tears, all existing printed material is legible, however, paper is heavily worn with wear marks (weathering, unoriginal pencil or ink marks, or a foreign substance on the paper such as rust, grease, oil, etc.) extending well onto the original printed material.
 
 FAIR - Page(s) may be missing or loose and shall be so noted. Edges may be damaged. Original paper folds  are heavily damaged. Item may show additional (unoriginal) folds or “dog-eared” page(s). Pages) have  tears. SOME OR ALL OF THE EXISTING PRINTED MATERIAL IS ILLEGIBLE. Paper is heavily worn
 with severe wear marks (weathering, unoriginal pencil or ink extending well onto the original printed material).
 
 *It is the nature of a market for the seller to see an item in a very positive light and to assign the most favorable description. In contrast, a buyer may see the same item in a less favorable light and will attempt to purchase the item accordingly. It is up to the buyer and seller to negotiate price based on their individual values. ANY GRADING SYSTEM IS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. When in doubt, the wisest purchase just may be the reproduction for reference only. Regardless, we strongly recommend that novices do not make major purchases without the assistance of friends who have experience in buying and selling paper items.
 
 **Items that have printing that is offset, smeared, double images, odd cut pages, etc. are considered errors and should be noted as such. 
 
 RULES REGULATING REFINISHED / RESTORED / FAKE TINPLATE
 
 Inasmuch as many restored and refinished trains are appearing in collections and an the market, to protect present and future collectors, it is the direction of the BOD that all restored and/or refinished trains offered for sale or trade, be identified as such, as follows:
 
 1. That no train should be refinished to represent something that it was not originally.
 2. That all trains, which are restored (in paint) to original condition, or refinished in other than original paint, should be permanently marked as such, and by whom.
 3. That any parts made as substitutes for original parts should be properly identified as to manufacturer, and such replacement parts or any non-original parts be noted when an item is offered for sale.
 4. That any catalog reprint should be so identified in the actual plates, stating year reprinted and by whom.