DALE & SYKES
PIECED TINWARE
Successors to W.D. RIDER
Franklin, Pennsylvania
vintage invoice dated September 9, 1892
MY GRADING SYSTEM
I try to be fair and honest in my grading, and make every attempt 
to mention loose pages, stains, tears, binding damage, etc.
Sometimes I find that an item falls between two grades, 
in which case I will list it with a two-grade scale.
NEAR MINT - MINT: I rarely use these grades, 
except when an item is in truly exceptional condition.
VERY FINE: very nice with virtually no major defects.
FINE+: an even nicer copy, with minimal obvious defects.
FINE: a nice copy, flat with minor creases; may have some spine stress,
but no prominent defects.
FINE-: better than VG+ but just a bit short of what I would consider Fine.
VERY GOOD+: most of the items I list fall into this grade;
a typical read item with obvious defects as noted.
VERY GOOD: fairly well-read with an accumulation of tears and defects as noted;
 may be heavily creased or spine-rolled.
GOOD: a complete but heavily-read item; may be missing pieces of covers,
loose covers, rolled spine or other noted damage.
FAIR: a rough item, with many defects including tears,
missing pieces, water damage, spine wear, etc.
POOR: no missing pages unless noted, but otherwise a pretty trashed item; 
almost any and every damage may be present.