With no single scale across such a broad category, the honest listing is a short list said in the same order every time.
The order
- What it is — edition, variant, year, maker, as far as you can say
- How certain you are of that
- The object — condition, in specifics
- The packaging, separately
- Completeness — what came with it originally and what is here
- Any repair, restoration or replacement part
Useful states
Sealed — unopened, seal intact. Mint in box — opened, unused, boxed. Complete — everything that came with it. Displayed — out of the box, with whatever that cost it. Used or played with — honest wear, described.
The specifics that matter in most objects
Chips, cracks, crazing, paint rubs, yellowing from light, warping, fading, loose joints, missing stands and inserts, writing, stickers and the marks left by removing them.
Say what you are not sure about
"I believe this is the first issue but I cannot confirm it" is a sentence that sells and protects you at the same time. A confident wrong identification is the thing that unravels.
Questions people ask
Does yellowing come out?
Treat it as permanent. It is light and age, and it should be shown against something white.
Is "rare" a condition?
No, and it is not a description either. Say the edition size if you know it.
How do I describe something I cannot identify?
By what you can see: materials, measurements, marks, condition. Somebody in the room will often do the rest.
More: condition words across every category, buying collectibles.