

Simply ask the seller questions to help clear up anything you aren't certain about. If the scan of the card you wish to buy seems to be hiding something or doesn't offer an accurate or visible picture, it's time to close your eyes and type. The hardest and riskiest way to buy a card is when you can't see it in person. What to Do When You Can't See a Card in Person The goal is to find cards that have been well taken care of and are in better condition than the norm. The older cards get, the worse the condition gets. This doesn't mean older cards are worth less, it simply means that less is expected in terms of condition. The year is fairly simple as older cards grade lower than newer ones.
#B sports cards and more how to
If you want to understand how to approach this, think about opening a pack and imagine how the cards would hold up over time (sleeving process, gentle bump to a corner or edges, moisture, etc.).

In this case, a BGS 9.5 barely does a thing for the value. On the flip side, there are the occasional sets in which a majority of the cards come out the pack in near perfect condition. As a result, high-grades sell for thousands while average grades go for much less. The card's foil stock led to an insane amount of "out of the pack" imperfections. A good example of this is Derek Jeter's 1993 SP rookie card. Expecting a high grade for certain card brands is not only unrealistic, but virtually impossible. A Pristine 10 can turn a $10 card into a $1,000 one. Then there is a "PRISTINE 10" which is the holy grail of cardboard. This is the condition most collectors want. A grade of 9.5 is Gem-Mint, which is a card that is nearly flawless. Anything above a 9 is worth book value or greater, as BGS 9 (known as a "Mint 9") is the condition expected of the card out of the pack. They give each attribute a grade of 1-10, then combine those to give the card a final grade of 1-10. PSA Grades on a flat 1-10 scale and SGC Grades on a scale out of 100, which they then use to give the card a grade of 1-10.Ĭards are graded based on these factors: Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface. The Grading Scalesīeckett grades their cards on a scale of 1-10 with sub-grades (.5s). In general, BGS is preferred for modern cards, while PSA is the favorite for vintage cards. The Grading Companiesīeckett Grading Services (BGS), PSA and SGC are the main companies used to grade a card. So you want to know more about grading cards, but don't know where to start? Our guide is here to help. Sports Card Grading 101 Guide Sports Card Grading Guide
