Grading Vintage View-Master Reels and Packets:
As with all vintage collectibles, the quality of its condition determines both its value and desirability. Grading systems attempt to standardize this quality for more universal understanding. 

View-Master reels and packets can be categorized broadly into three groups:
Collector Grade
Economy Grade
Bargain Grade
Rummage Grade

COLLECTOR GRADE:

• sharp edges and corners on jackets, booklets, sleeves
• no tears or rips
• no soiling
• no bubbling of reels
• no violeting, nor fungus of images
• crisp and clean - no age discoloration
• no wear in top flap fold

Generally, to be Collector Grade there can be no defects, or no more than one very minor defect.
This will always be represented by the smallest number of items qualifying for this highest grade.

ECONOMY GRADE:

ECONOMY GRADE single reels and 3 reel packets, and their jackets, sleeves, and booklets share the qualities listed below:

• light wrinkling at edges
• light bumped corners
• light age discoloration
• minor general wear
• light bubbling of reels
• no violeting of nor fungus of images
• light wear in top flap fold

Generally, to be Economy Grade there are one or two minor defects that barely keep the item from being considered Collector Grade.
This will always be a larger group than the highest quality, but still a minority.

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BARGAIN GRADE single reels and 3 reel packets, and their jackets, sleeves, and booklets share the qualities listed below:

• bumped corners
• light tears or rips
• light soiling
• light bubbling of reels
• light violeting and/or fungus on images
• wear in top flap fold

Bargain Grade is the broadest range in quality varying from one significant defect to many minor defects to many significant defects
This will always be by far the largest group, understandably because vintage items were used and/or stored where harm and/or wear happened.

RUMMAGE GRADE Similar to Bargain Grade but with many more defects and with substantially lower prices.