In the world of collectibles, grading trading cards, also known as Trading Card Games (TCGs), has become a crucial factor in determining their value and ensuring their condition. By having their cards graded, collectors and investors can better understand and protect their collections. This guide provides a detailed overview of what card grading involves, why it's important, and how to go about it.
Popular Trading Cards (TCG)
Some of the most popular trading cards include:
- Pokémon TCG: Known for their colorful and powerful characters.
- Yu-Gi-Oh!: Focuses on strategic duels with monsters, traps, and magic.
- Magic: The Gathering: One of the oldest and most complex TCGs, known for its deep strategic gameplay.
What is card grading?
Card grading involves a professional company assessing the condition of a card and assigning it a number on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing perfect condition. The assessment is based on careful inspection of factors such as:
- Corner wear
- Scratches
- Surface damage
- Centering error
- Other defects
The importance of the grading scale
- 10 (Gem Mint): Perfect condition with no visible defects.
- 9 (Mint): Almost perfect with very minor flaws.
- 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Minor defects that are barely visible.
- 7 (Near Mint): Slight signs of wear or minor flaws.
- 6 (Excellent-Mint): More visible defects but still in good condition.
- 5 (Excellent): More visible defects, but the card is still collectible.
- 4 and below: Significant defects such as visible creases or stains.
Why grade cards?
Grading provides an objective assessment of the condition of the card, which can increase its value in the marketplace. A graded card is considered more reliable, especially for serious collectors and investors. Grading also provides better protection and preservation of the card over time, as it is sealed in a protective holder.
Well-known Grading Companies
When considering grading your trading cards, it's important to choose a trustworthy company. Here are some of the most respected grading companies in the industry:
- PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator): One of the most recognized grading companies, known for its accuracy and reliability, PSA offers grading for a variety of trading cards and has an extensive website with resources and information for collectors.
- Beckett Grading Services (BGS): Known for their in-depth analysis and detailed grading process, Beckett is a respected name in both sports card and TCG grading, with a user-friendly website offering services and information.
- CGC (Certified Guaranty Company): Offers grading for both trading cards and comic books, known for their strict standards and detailed assessments. Visit their website for more information about their services and grading process.
Swedish Grading Company
In Sweden there are also a few grading companies that can be used to grade your cards. These companies are not as established internationally as the larger grading companies, but still offer valuable services for the Swedish market:
- RaukCard: A Swedish company that offers grading of trading cards. More information can be found on their website .
- Professional Card Grading (PCG): Another Swedish company that specializes in grading trading cards. Visit their website for more information.
How is grading done?
- Choosing a grading company: Choose a reliable company like PSA, Beckett, or CGC.
- Submission: Submit the card to the company.
- Inspection: The card is carefully inspected by experts.
- Grading: The card is assigned a grade and sealed in a protective holder with a label indicating the grade.
