| Code | Description |
| . | Scott. The value type column is blank when the lot's value is taken from the latest Scott catalog. This is the value for a Very Fine example of the item. |
| RET | Retail. For an item not listed in Scott, the item's value is Bookman's retail, or dealer's retail for an item we have received from a dealer. |
| EST | Estimate. For an item not in Scott or Bookman, the item's value is our best estimate. This is the amount that we feel informed bidders will pay for the lot. This value is based on our experience with previous sales of similar material. Lots may realize more or less than our estimate. This is not a catalog value. Bids of less than 70% of the estimated value are not likely to be successful. |
| Code | Description |
| S | SUPERB: Perfect centering with large margins. |
| XF | EXTRA FINE: Design is almost perfectly centered. |
| VF | VERY FINE: Design is 75% centered. A premium stamp. |
| FVF | FINE TO VERY FINE: Design is 50% centered. |
| F | FINE: All perfs clear design, may be close on 19th C. |
| AV | AVERAGE: Perfs cut into design. |
| SF | SPACE FILLER: Pieces missing, very heavy cancel, etc. |
| Code | Description | Code | Description | Code | Description |
| * | Mint, Original Gum | HH | Heavily hinged | (P) | Photo |
| ** | Mint, NH | horz | Horizontal | PB | Plate block |
| (*) | Unused, No Gum | Hr | Hinge remnant | PC | Postcard |
| o | Used | L | Left | pf | Perforation |
| A | Addressed | LC | Light cancel | PNB | Pen(cil) # on back |
| B | Bottom | LH | Lightly hinged | PNS | Plate number single |
| BS | Back Stamp | Lpr | Coil line pair | pp | Pulled perf |
| cc | Cancel | mgn | Margin | PS | Perf separation |
| cds | Circular date stamp | mm | Millimeter | R | Right |
| cnr | Corner | MS | Matched set | RG | Regummed |
| crs | Crease | ms | Manuscript | SC | Stampless cover |
| cvr | Cover | mp | Missing perf | SE | Straight edge |
| C/A | Cachet, Addressed | NC | No cachet | SFL | Stampless folded letter |
| C/U | Cachet, Unaddressed | NG | No gum | S/S | Souvenir sheet |
| CMS | Complete matched set | NGC | Natural gum crease | sp | Short perf |
| FC | Folded cover | NGS | Natural gum skip | stp | Stamp |
| FDC | First day cover | NH | Never hinged | T | Top |
| flts | Faults | NPI | Natural paper inclusion | tt | Tiny tear |
| GD | Gum disturbance | NYFMC | New York foreign mail | vert | Vertical |
| h/s | Handstamp | OG | Original gum | w/, w/o | With, Without |
| HC | Heavy cancel | o/w | Otherwise |