Quality and rarity of the title
Evaluation system
The international evaluation system classifies the quality of conservation in 6 categories : UNC, EF, VF, F, VG et G sometimes annotated with a + or - to indicate an intermediate state. When this is the case, we add annotations that can influence the price.
The evaluation is only done on the title coat with the exception of the coupons. The latter do not intervene in determining the state of conservation.
A list of the most common is below. For example, the same actions canceled or not will indeed be appreciated differently by collectors.
UNC : UNCirculated
Corresponds to the most perfect state, like coming out of the printing press. No tearing, folding or salivation
VF : Very Fine
Corresponds to a worn state; creases, slight tears in the edges but no missing pieces
VG : Very Good
Corresponds to a very damaged state: it lacks large pieces of paper and is badly damaged
EF : Extremely Fine
Corresponds to a slightly worn condition, one or two folds
F : Fine
Corresponds to a damaged state: folds, tears along the edges and small pieces of paper missing
G : Good
Corresponds to a catastrophic state: important part of the missing title and very damaged condition
Left-hand title in condition F: stains in the top of the mantle, big crease in the middle, rips along the left edge, piece of paper stuck in the bottom and small pieces missing on the edges
Right title in VG condition: like the one on the left, spots, folds and small tears but also a big fold in the middle with many missing pieces
Annotations commonly used
h.c. : Hole Cancelled : canceled by perforations
p.c. : Pen Cancelled : canceled in the bic, usually canceled marked in large
pi.h. : Pin Holes : presence of pinholes
pu.h. : Punch Holes : presence of 2 drill holes usually in the left or right margin
s.c. : Stamp Cancelled : canceled by stamps
st.c. : Strip Cancelled : canceled on roulette
s.o.f. : Stamp On Face : presence of a single stamp on the mantle
ss.o.f. : StampS On Face : presence of several stamps on the mantle
Rarity of the title
Note, however, that scripophily is a field of collection that is too young to be able to offer guarantees and that new discoveries are always possible which would change the raritya classification of a title.
Scale rarity of the title
