The Philadelphia goldfish standards were originally based on the U.K. standards, which were developed at the turn of the century.  Like the U.K. goldfish standards, the Philadelphia goldfish standards were based on points, with different varieties having different point categories assigned to them.

The Philadelphia goldfish standards were therefore largely variety, or characteristic based.  Comparability across goldfish varieties for similar characteristics (such as finnage) was difficult to assess.

Show winners were determined by adding-up scores for the best fish in variety, and then comparing these variety scores (based on highest total points) to determine an overall show winner.

The Philadelphia goldfish standards do not include some of the more recent varieties (notably the Bubbleye and Pearlscale), and also include distinctions between tail types (ribbon and veil) which are no longer separately grouped.  The variety type, Nymph, is no longer considered a single-tail form of Veiltail, but is considered a "sport" of the Veiltail and is not shown.