Fine Art Print Grading Tutorial
| 10 Point Grading Scale | ||
| 10/10 | Mint | No damage to the print surface |
| 9/10 | Excellent | Mild condition issues that are barely perceptible to the naked eye |
| 8/10 | Very Fine | Mild or moderate condition issues visible under very close inspection or under raking light |
| 7/10 | Fine | Mild or moderate condition issues that attract the eye under gallery lighting conditions |
| 6/10 | Very Good | Moderate or mild condition issues that attract the eye under normal viewing conditions |
| 5/10 | Good | Moderate or severe issues that attract the eye under normal viewing conditions and disrupt the image |
| 4/10 | Fair | Moderate or severe condition issues that are immediately apparent and significantly detract from the overall look of the work |
| 3/10 | Poor | Work has severe condition issues and some may be beyond repair |
| 2/10 | Very Poor | Work has significant severe condition issues and beyond repair |
| 1/10 | Unsellable | Work is not suitable for resale |
| Severe Condition Issues |
| Colors faded |
| Losses to image / tears to the image |
| Obtrusive rubbing to image |
| Skinning to image |
| Brittleness |
| Moderate Condition Issues |
| Colors attenuated |
| Light / time staining |
| Backboard staining |
| Skinning to margins |
| Losses to sheet / sheet has margins trimmed / tears to the sheet |
| Creases to image |
| Some specks of foxing / mold |
| Staining |
| Previous restoration |
| Mat burns |
| Mild Condition Issues |
| Surface soiling |
| Handling creases |
| Buckling |
| Stray ink |
| Adhesive residue or staining |
Heritage Auctions, the world's third largest auction house, brings decades of experience and connoisseurship to the fine art world. From Old Masters to contemporary works, our specialists help collectors understand and appreciate art and as the best place to sell fine art, we help sellers achieve the highest prices in the market.