Terms used by online stamp sellers

Buying stamps from online auctions? Here are some definitions of terms used by sellers

Main Abbreviations used by online stamp sellers:

MNH = “Mint Never Hinged” with original gum without any gum disturbance

MLH = “Mint Lightly Hinged” with original gum that shows slight marks from previous hinging or a small unobtrusive hinge remnant

M = “Mint” with original gum, that has significant marks from 1 or more hinges, or the actual hinge remains present

UN = “Unused” without gum

VFU = “Very Fine Used” with either a clear neat cancel or a neat corner cds, well centred for issue with nice perfs, and 4 margins on imperfs

FU = “Fine Used” still an attractive stamp with a fairly neat average cancel for issue, may be somewhat off centred, perfs may be slightly irregular or imperfs may have less than 4 margins.

GU = “Good Used” an average used stamp that may have a heavy or smudged cancel or minor blemishes from postal use

CTO = “Cancelled To Order”
(note: VFU or FU stamps may in fact be CTO)

Mostly F-VF = when a set or collection is described thus it means that some stamps are lower quality so not F or VF, or have faults etc