Thunderbird ModelsIndependent UK collector’s guide

Collector guide

Condition and box grading: what “mint” really means

The grading words used by auction houses and sellers — Mint, Near Mint, Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor — plus MIB, MOC and the rest, explained with sources.

Facts last checked 4 October 2026

A worn red die-cast racing car with chipped paint
A playworn Dinky Toys No. 231 Maserati racing car — chips and rubs like these affect grading Photo: Stephen Edmonds, CC BY-SA 2.0
  1. Mint“The item is in perfect condition.”
  2. Near Mint“Almost perfect, any imperfections will be extremely minor.”
  3. Excellent“The item will have had very careful use, with only small imperfections.”
  4. Good“The item will have had more use, showing obvious imperfections.”
  5. Fair“The item will have heavy signs of wear, showing major imperfections & may include repaints.”
  6. Poor“The item will be in a very distressed condition, with many faults.”
Grades and descriptions as published by UK toy auctioneer Vectis (source). Other auction houses and sellers use their own scales and wording.

Condition descriptions are opinions, not measurements — and they vary between sellers. Knowing how the professionals use the words helps you read a listing and ask the right questions. (We don’t publish valuations: what something is worth depends on its condition and on the market at the time.)

A typical auction-house scale

The scale above is the one published by Vectis, a UK toy auctioneer. Vectis adds that “Plus” may be used if an item is better than its classification suggests, that its grades relate to the appearance of an item — with no warranty for mechanical or electrical operation — and that any assessment “must be regarded as opinion only” (Vectis).

Other scales you may see

  • Hake’s (a US collectibles auctioneer) adds grades between those above — Very Fine, Fine and Very Good — running from Mint (“flawless condition”) to Poor (“extensive damage and wear”) (Hake’s).
  • AFA (Action Figure Authority), a third-party grading service, uses a 100-point scale and a 10-point “Unified” scale, and separates items into sealed (original, factory-sealed packaging), qualified (opened, but no signs of use) and loose (not in original packaging) (AFA).

Abbreviations in listings

Wikipedia lists the common ones (Wikipedia):

  • MIB — mint in box
  • MIP — mint in package
  • MISB — mint in sealed box
  • MOC — mint on card
  • NRFB — never removed from box

Grading a toy and its box

  • Ask about the box separately. A toy and its box can be in very different condition; if a listing gives one grade, ask what it refers to.
  • Check completeness. Missing parts matter: FAB 1’s missiles and figures, Thunderbird 2’s pod and Thunderbird 4. Even the Science Museum Group’s 1973 Dinky FAB 1 is catalogued “Weaponry wanting” (record).
  • Look for repairs and repaints. Vectis’s description of “Fair” notes that items may include repaints — see spotting reproductions and restorations.
  • Electronics are separate. As Vectis notes, a grade describes appearance; ask whether sound and light features work.

Sources

Keep reading

More guides

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  4. Buying safely on eBay

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