Judy's Old Wood Toys

Grading Standards

The following standards are used by the dealers participating in the Toy Shop section of Judy's Old Wood Toys.

The grading of antique toys is inherently subjective. Fair people will disagree. We do not accept a grading condition "considering its age". This greatly complicates toy grading. Excellent condition means the same for a 10 year old toy and a 100 year old toy. 

The grade generally applies to the condition of the surface material of the toy (paint and clothing). It is acceptable to describe a toy with missing parts as: "missing head, otherwise near mint". This tells a reader that although the toy is not complete, what remains is near mint.

A dealer may elect to incompletely describe the condition of a toy on the Web site - perhaps not pointing out restorations or small damaged areas. The dealer is obliged, however, to fully describe any such problems a toy may have upon request - so ask.

we try to follow the following definitions:

Mint  - indistinguishable from the condition of the toy when produced by the manufacturer originally. A Very high standard. The toy must have no damage - stored under ideal conditions. Surfaces are perfect. Any missing parts must be described. Toy may have developed a very pleasing patina due to slight oxidation of the surface. A manufacturing defect does not downgrade the toy but should be described. Old toys almost never meet this standard.

Near Mint - As mint except for a very minor flaw not readily noticed.

Excellent - more flaws, but toy is quite acceptable in the finest collections. Beautiful toy. Paint still glossy and bright. Very minor paint or cloth damage. The eye is not drawn to the defects but to the overall beauty of the toy.

Very Good - paint or clothes have some problems. Paint may be slightly  dull, clothes somewhat faded. There may be some wood damage. Still an acceptable grade for fine collections, especially for rare pieces.

Good - obviously played with. Considerable wear and damage. not acceptable in the finest collections but still quite displayable.

Fair - played with to the point of breakdown. Needs restoration to be presentable.

Poor - a space filler for rare pieces. Significant paint or wood damage. May not be reliably identifiable as to style. Hard to properly restore.

Plus + and minus - signs may be used to indicate that the toy is a bit better or worse than the standard for the grade.

Wooden toys often employed rubber cords or springs inside their arms, legs and heads to facilitate articulation of these joints. These components are often broken, or have lost their elasticity. To make toy more displayable, these components are often replaced. This repair is not visible and does not affect the toys grade if expertly executed.

Originality of the toy is extremely important. A totally repainted toy cannot be graded higher than poor no matter how impressive the restoration. A totally restored toy should be identified as such. Minor restorations should be identified.

There are those who insist that, to reach a mint grade, the toy must have its original box. We disagree since determining the original existence of a box is nearly impossible in most cases. Sometimes toys were shipped in individual boxes while at other times the same toy might be shipped in large crates with many other toys. It depended on how the toy was to be marketed.

However, if a toy has its original box, the box's grade does not affect the toy's grade. You can have a near mint toy with its original, but poor box. Having its original box does increase, sometimes dramatically, the toy's value. Old toy boxes are very rare and desirable.

See grading examples below. Click on thumbnails to enlarge.