Card Grading 101
Card collecting is a hobby many of us can remember from childhood and may even be in our lives as we progress into adulthood. It doesn't matter if you've had a collection of sports cards such as football or baseball trading cards or, based on the age of your child, Pokemon or Garbage Pail Kids cards, the thrill of opening a brand new pack has been a common experience for many. In the past few years, the business of trading cards has grown exponentially, and many were looking for a way to begin or build their collection. Some even started looking through their collection and getting them graded and authenticated to ensure they find the best price for their precious memorabilia collection. When you're looking to appraise and place your cards listed on the market, one of the initial items experts suggest is having them evaluated.
What exactly is grading a card? The term "card grading" is usually described as the act of sending a trading card to a third-party provider. This card will then be examined for authenticity and rated on a scale of 10 points to determine the quality. It is given an overall grade, sealed in a tamper-proof slab or holder, and then assigned a catalogued serial. What does all this mean, and how do companies like Beckett and PSA certify more than 75 million cards? Grading cards began in the mid-1980s and has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business. Companies with a name like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and Beckett have set the industry standard, with smaller firms such as SGC (Sportscard Guaranty) and CSG (Certified Sports Guaranty) growing in popularity during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Each firm offers something unique for collectors, with specific grading methods to provide the highest quality product. Collectors from all over the world have utilized the grades provided by these companies to determine prices on the market, the rarity of cards with Pop reports, and preserve their most sought-after and important card collections in slabs. What's the procedure, however? Although each business uses its formula and techniques, most cards are assessed on four points. The graders look at their corners, the surface, their centring, and sides. Each test is paired with the others to give the student an overall score, typically using
Card collecting is an activity that many of us will remember from childhood and may continue to be a part of our lives as we become adults. It doesn't matter if you've been a collector of sports cards, such as football or baseball trading cards, or based on the age of your child, Pokemon or Garbage Pail Kids cards, the thrill of opening a new set has been a common experience for many. In the last couple of years, the market for trading cards has grown exponentially, and many were looking for a way to begin or build their collection. Others started looking through their collection and having them graded or authenticated to ensure they find the best price for their precious memorabilia collection. If you are looking to evaluate and put your cards listed on the market, one of the initial recommendations from experts is to have them assessed.
What is a card grade? "card grading" is usually described as submitting the credit card to a third-party service. It is examined to ensure authenticity and graded on a 10-point scale to determine the state of the card. After that, the card gets given an overall score, then sealed in a tamper-proof case or slab and assigned a catalogued serial. What does this all mean, and how are companies such as Beckett and PSA assessed more than 75 million cards? Card grading began in the late 1980s and has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business. Companies with a name like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and Beckett have established the industry standard, and smaller businesses such as SGC (Sportscard Guaranty) and CSG (Certified Sports Guaranty) are growing in popularity in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graded cards can be autographed or unsigned, and you can find an extensive array of Autographed MLB Trading Cards, Autographed NFL Trading Cards, Autographed NBA Cards and more at Awesomeartifact.com.
The Sports Collectibles Blog Cat Card Expert, Meecko!