RATING BOXES Rating boxes is not as common as rating the models. Most people still refer to the box condition with the usual "MINT" system. "MINT" means perfect, with absolutaly no fault. For a box, it is even more impossible than for a model. A perfect box would have to be freshly cut and put together, with not even a shadow of imperfection. No wear to corners, end flaps or sides. No mark, with perfect lettering. "NEAR MINT" would be used for boxes with minimal wear to corners and flaps. Absolutaly no marking, hole or tear. Of course, all end closer flaps and large end flaps are present. "EXCELLENT" refers to boxes with normal wear, with rounded corners, slight tears, small marks. All flaps still preesent. "GOOD" applies to boxes with heavy wear, some more important tears. Marks on box could also be found, such as writings. Flaps may be detached. "FAIR" means a box with heavy wear, several tears, holes and parts detached. Model is still recognizible on fronts. "POOR" is a hardly recongnizible box. Parts are missing. RATING MODELS Rating a model is a very difficult task. It greatly depends on the objectivity of the person rating it and something that could be considered "Mint" from one person can be seen as "Near Mint" for another. Several so called "standards" do exist for rating Matchbox toys and it's not easy to rate a model objectively. Instead of trying to create some kind of universal rating systemm which would probably be very complex and still not perfect, I tried to compare several rating systems commonly used in the Matchbox world. These systems are quite easy to understand. Some are based on letters, others numbers, but all leave place for interpretation. The very common "Mint" rating system usedd for such collectables as stamps, sports cards and other toys is of course one of the most popular. "MINT" means perfect, with absolutaly no fault. It is rather rare and some even think impossible to obtain. The paint needs to have no chip, nick, scratch, bubble or any other kind of imperfection. Perfection is the key. "NEAR MINT" is used for models almost peferct, with a few degrees of imperfection. A great lot of so called "MINT" models are in fact NEAR MINT, because of a pin head size chip, a small chip of a slight scratch. "EXCELLENT" often refers to models slightly damaged, maybe played with. Paint is chipped, although not too much. "GOOD" applies to models with fairly damaged paint, still complete and displayable.7 "FAIR" means a toy that have seen better days. Paint is worn, parts are missing. "POOR" is basically a beater. Paint is gone. Wheels and parts are probably, too. A junkyard filler with not collectible value. Numerical systems, such as C system (C10, C6, etc.) are also used a lot. We can also find letters (A, B, C+). Some even use systems that compute points for imperfections. For example, a chip worth 0.10, a scratch 0.5, so a model with 3 chips and a scracth would be graded a 9.2 model. I tried to summarize the most common systems in one large table that I personnaly use for grading my own collection :