Card condition - Revision history

Chris at 00:50, 28 April 2012

2012-04-28T00:50:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:50, 27 April 2012
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	'''Nr-MT''' (Near Mint)- may have one micro defect.		'''Nr-MT''' (Near Mint)- may have one micro defect.

	'''EX-MT''' (Excellent-Mint)- may have two or more micro defects. Value is 65 -80% of Nr-MT.		'''EX-MT''' (Excellent-Mint)- may have two or more micro defects. Value is 65 -80% of Nr-MT. A "Micro Defect" would be fuzzy corners, slight off-centering, printer's lines printer's spots, slightly out of focus, or slight loss of original gloss.

	~~A "Micro Defect" would be fuzzy corners, slight off-centering, printer's lines printer's spots, slightly out of focus, or slight loss of original gloss.~~		'''EX''' (Excellent) - has minor defects. Value is 50-65% of Nr-MT. A "Minor Defect" would be corner wear or slight rounding, off-centering, light crease on back, wax or gum stains on reverse, loss of original gloss, writing or tape marks on back, or rubber band marks.

	'''EX''' (Excellent) - has minor defects. Value is 50-65% of Nr-MT

	A "Minor Defect" would be corner wear or slight rounding, off-centering, light crease on back, wax or gum stains on reverse, loss of original gloss, writing or tape marks on back, or rubber band marks.

	'''VG''' (Very Good) - may have one major defect. Value is 30% of Nr-MT		'''VG''' (Very Good) - may have one major defect. Value is 30% of Nr-MT

	'''G''' (Good) - may have two or more major defects. Value is 10% of Nr-MT		'''G''' (Good) - may have two or more major defects. Value is 10% of Nr-MT. A "Major Defect" would be rounded corner(s), badly off centered, crease(s), deceptive trimming, deceptively retouched borders, pin hole, staple hole, incidental writing or tape marks on front, warping, water stains, or sun fading.
	A "Major Defect" would be rounded corner(s), badly off centered, crease(s), deceptive trimming, deceptively retouched borders, pin hole, staple hole, incidental writing or tape marks on front, warping, water stains, or sun fading.

	'''F''' (Fair) - may have one catastrophic defect. Value is ?? - depends on buyer.		'''F''' (Fair) - may have one catastrophic defect. Value is ?? - depends on buyer. A "Catastrophic Defect" is the worst kind and would include badly rounded corner(s), mis-cutting, heavy crease(s), obvious trimming, punch hole, tack hole, tear(s) etc...
	A "Catastrophic Defect" is the worst kind and would include badly rounded corner(s), mis-cutting, heavy crease(s), obvious trimming, punch hole, tack hole, tear(s) etc...

	It is also worthy to mention that any sort of tape marks, pen marks, etc. make the card a DEFACED cards. An autograph on a card technically defaces the card. In most cases, selling the card would depend on what the buyer would be willing to pay. People who like autographed cards will likely pay a premium if the card is autographed.		It is also worthy to mention that any sort of tape marks, pen marks, etc. make the card a DEFACED cards. An autograph on a card technically defaces the card. In most cases, selling the card would depend on what the buyer would be willing to pay. People who like autographed cards will likely pay a premium if the card is autographed.
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	Horizontal centering and vertical centering can be down the same way. Lets say the left border is 3 mm and the right border is 2 mm. This gives a total border of 5 mm. Divide 3/5 to get the % of left border 2/3 to get the % of right border. In this case, you get 60/40.		Horizontal centering and vertical centering can be down the same way. Lets say the left border is 3 mm and the right border is 2 mm. This gives a total border of 5 mm. Divide 3/5 to get the % of left border 2/3 to get the % of right border. In this case, you get 60/40.

	~~The~~ non border cards ~~are a lot different~~, ~~but by familiarizing yourself with the set they belong to you~~ can compare the ~~cards~~. If you look at several cards from the set, you can get an idea of where the player ~~name is located~~ or ~~the~~ team name is. When you are familiar with this it becomes easy to ~~see a mis~~-~~cut~~. You can also look at the backs of several cards and discern where the name bar or logo ~~is supposed to~~ be.		Centering is more difficult to judge on non-border cards. However, it helps if can can compare cards from the same set. If you look at several cards from the set, you can get an idea of where the player or team name should be located. When you are familiar with this it becomes easy to identify an off-centered card. You can also look at the backs of several cards and discern where the name bar or logo should be.

	Of course, you're not going to carry a ruler around with you to shows ~~or or stores~~. However, use ~~these techniques at home with your collection. You'd be surprised how fast you can "get experienced"~~.		Of course, you're not going to carry a ruler around with you to card shops or shows. However, use this simple scale to determine condition.

	For example:		For example:

	centering 55/45 or 60/40 drop to NM-MT		centering 55/45 or 60/40 drop to NM-MT


	centering 65/35 or 70/30 drop to NrMT		centering 65/35 or 70/30 drop to NrMT
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	centering 85/15 or 90/10 drop to EX		centering 85/15 or 90/10 drop to EX

	~~It's up to you how you place the centering issue.~~



	[[Category:Glossary]]		[[Category:Glossary]]

Chris at 00:43, 28 April 2012

2012-04-28T00:43:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, 27 April 2012
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	~~How to grade cards~~:		Some believe that there is no such thing as a '''MINT''' card unless its still in the pack (thus the premiums on older wax packs). Following is a brief summary of card grades:

	Beckett's guides have a very extensive section on how to grade cards. The newer Beckett's are especially good since they provide photos you can use to get a better idea. Cards are never graded the same. Some believe that there is no such thing as a '''MINT''' card unless its still in the pack (thus the premiums on older wax packs). Following is a brief summary of card grades:		'''MT''' (Mint)- only if it is in perfect condition. Usually reserved for cards still in original packaging (unopened packs, etc) Many collectors consider most cards to actually be in NrMT because they have been handled to some extent.

	'''MT''' (Mint)- only if it is in perfect condition. Usually reserved for cards still in original packaging (unopened packs, etc) Many collectors consider most cards to actually be in NrMT because they have been handled to some extent.		'''Nr-MT''' (Near Mint)- may have one micro defect.
	'''
	Nr-MT''' (Near Mint)- may have one micro defect.

	'''EX-MT''' (Excellent-Mint)- may have two or more micro defects. Value is 65 -80% of Nr-MT.		'''EX-MT''' (Excellent-Mint)- may have two or more micro defects. Value is 65 -80% of Nr-MT.
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	Of course, you're not going to carry a ruler around with you to shows or or stores. However, use these techniques at home with your collection. You'd be surprised how fast you can "get experienced".		Of course, you're not going to carry a ruler around with you to shows or or stores. However, use these techniques at home with your collection. You'd be surprised how fast you can "get experienced".

	~~Beckett magazine states that a "mint" card can have~~ 60/40 ~~centering or better. I would dispute this. If its not perfect its not mint. I~~ drop ~~the card 1 grade per level. For example:~~		For example:

			centering 55/45 or 60/40 drop to NM-MT


	~~centering 55/45 or 60/40 drop to NM-MT~~
	centering 65/35 or 70/30 drop to NrMT		centering 65/35 or 70/30 drop to NrMT

	centering 75/25 or 80/20 drop to EX-MT		centering 75/25 or 80/20 drop to EX-MT

	centering 85/15 or 90/10 drop to EX		centering 85/15 or 90/10 drop to EX

Chris: moved Grading Guide to Card condition

2012-04-28T00:37:16Z

moved Grading Guide to Card condition

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:37, 27 April 2012
(No difference)

Just me at 03:14, 14 December 2011

2011-12-14T03:14:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 13 December 2011
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	It's up to you how you place the centering issue.		It's up to you how you place the centering issue.



			[[Category:Glossary]]

Stalegum: Grading moved to Grading Guide

2009-12-23T03:31:32Z

Grading moved to Grading Guide

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:31, 22 December 2009
(No difference)

Stalegum: New page: How to grade cards: Beckett's guides have a very extensive section on how to grade cards. The newer Beckett's are especially good since they provide photos you can use to get a better ide...

2009-12-23T03:31:05Z

New page: How to grade cards: Beckett's guides have a very extensive section on how to grade cards. The newer Beckett's are especially good since they provide photos you can use to get a better ide...

New page

How to grade cards:

Beckett's guides have a very extensive section on how to grade cards. The newer Beckett's are especially good since they provide photos you can use to get a better idea. Cards are never graded the same. Some believe that there is no such thing as a '''MINT''' card unless its still in the pack (thus the premiums on older wax packs). Following is a brief summary of card grades:

'''MT''' (Mint)- only if it is in perfect condition. Usually reserved for cards still in original packaging (unopened packs, etc) Many collectors consider most cards to actually be in NrMT because they have been handled to some extent.
'''
Nr-MT''' (Near Mint)- may have one micro defect.

'''EX-MT''' (Excellent-Mint)- may have two or more micro defects. Value is 65 -80% of Nr-MT.

A "Micro Defect" would be fuzzy corners, slight off-centering, printer's lines printer's spots, slightly out of focus, or slight loss of original gloss.

'''EX''' (Excellent) - has minor defects. Value is 50-65% of Nr-MT

A "Minor Defect" would be corner wear or slight rounding, off-centering, light crease on back, wax or gum stains on reverse, loss of original gloss, writing or tape marks on back, or rubber band marks.

'''VG''' (Very Good) - may have one major defect. Value is 30% of Nr-MT

'''G''' (Good) - may have two or more major defects. Value is 10% of Nr-MT
A "Major Defect" would be rounded corner(s), badly off centered, crease(s), deceptive trimming, deceptively retouched borders, pin hole, staple hole, incidental writing or tape marks on front, warping, water stains, or sun fading.

'''F''' (Fair) - may have one catastrophic defect. Value is ?? - depends on buyer.
A "Catastrophic Defect" is the worst kind and would include badly rounded corner(s), mis-cutting, heavy crease(s), obvious trimming, punch hole, tack hole, tear(s) etc...

It is also worthy to mention that any sort of tape marks, pen marks, etc. make the card a DEFACED cards. An autograph on a card technically defaces the card. In most cases, selling the card would depend on what the buyer would be willing to pay. People who like autographed cards will likely pay a premium if the card is autographed.

Card centering is one of the most subjective criteria for grading a card. What one person calls 60/40 another may say 55/45. Here's an idea of what the different centering benchmarks mean.

Horizontal centering and vertical centering can be down the same way. Lets say the left border is 3 mm and the right border is 2 mm. This gives a total border of 5 mm. Divide 3/5 to get the % of left border 2/3 to get the % of right border. In this case, you get 60/40.

The non border cards are a lot different, but by familiarizing yourself with the set they belong to you can compare the cards. If you look at several cards from the set, you can get an idea of where the player name is located or the team name is. When you are familiar with this it becomes easy to see a mis-cut. You can also look at the backs of several cards and discern where the name bar or logo is supposed to be.

Of course, you're not going to carry a ruler around with you to shows or or stores. However, use these techniques at home with your collection. You'd be surprised how fast you can "get experienced".

Beckett magazine states that a "mint" card can have 60/40 centering or better. I would dispute this. If its not perfect its not mint. I drop the card 1 grade per level. For example:

centering 55/45 or 60/40 drop to NM-MT
centering 65/35 or 70/30 drop to NrMT
centering 75/25 or 80/20 drop to EX-MT
centering 85/15 or 90/10 drop to EX

It's up to you how you place the centering issue.