| Condition |
Symbol |
Condition description |
| Extremely Fine |
XF |
The overall look of the philatelic item is identical to the condition when issued; the color is fresh; neat perforations; no contrived mark and printing defect. (For stamp with gum, the gum must be original and complete; the gum, due to the time, is allowed to be naturally toned but must be very even; for multiples, folded perforation is not allowed; for stamp with golden powder, the powder must be perfectly kept.) |
| Very Fine |
VF |
The condition of the philatelic item is basically close to XF; the color is fresh; neat perforations; no contrived mark; extremely tiny defect spot and extremely soft crease on the paper are allowed. (For stamp with gum, the gum must be original and complete; the gum, due to the time, is allowed to be naturally toned but must be very even; for multiples, folded perforation is not allowed; for stamp with golden powder, the powder must be perfectly kept; for philatelic items before Liberation, light hinge is allowed but the gum must be complete.) |
| Fine-Very Fine |
F-VF |
The overall look of the philatelic item is perfect; the color is fresh; defect spot(s) on the paper is allowed but not too obvious; neat perforation; slight soft crease is allowed. (For stamp with gum, tone that is even and folded gum are allowed; for multiples, folded perforation is allowed but no separation; for stamp with golden powder, the powder must remain even; light hinge is allowed; for philatelic items before Liberation, toning, partial gum, no gum, or hinge is allowed.) |
| Fine |
F |
The overall look of the stamp is perfect; the color is basically fresh; the perforations are basically neat; defect spot and soft crease is allowed but no damage or defect (For stamp, toning, partial gum, hinge, regum, no gum is allowed, but no short perf, tear, fading, heavy crease or thin; multiples can be separated; for stamp with golden power, oxidization of the powder in a minor degree is allowed.) |
| General |
G |
The overall look of the philatelic item is average, and there is no serious damage and defect. (Compared with F stamp, the stamp may look old in color and there is allowed to be slight perf short, corner short, tear, fading, or thin, etc. There can be crease to some degree or tiny size difference.) |
| Poor |
P |
The philatelic item has damage or serious defect. (For stamp, there exists serious perf short, corner short, tear, fading, thin, heavy crease, damage, or obvious size difference.) |
| Repaired |
RD |
Repaired stamp. (The stamp has gone through artificial repair, such as re-color, cancel removing, re-back, piece-together, etc.) |
