| |
Mint condition:
- General: A
Mint card should be very visually appealing.
It should have an unmarked surface, crisp corners, unblemished edges and
very good centering. A mint card
typically is not Gem Mint (absolutely perfect in every possible way) but should
be very close.
- Corners:
The corners on a Mint card should be very crisp and cleanly cut.
- Centering: A mint card will be very well centered.
- Edges: The edges on a Mint card should be perfect
to the naked eye. The edges should be
free from all flaws. A Mint card may
have up to two or three small dings on its edges that are visible only on very
close inspection of the card.
- Surface:
The surface on a Mint card should be factory fresh and still
glossy. There can be no blemishes on
the surface of a Mint card.
- Type of card typically in this category: For older cards such as Beta, only cards
that have been inspected under a magnifying lens and can pass all four general
categories under such scrutiny should be Mint.
Most newer cards straight from a pack should be Mint.
Near Mint Plus:
- General: A
Near Mint Plus card should be Mint except for a very minor flaw, or perhaps two
very minor flaws.
- Corners: The corners should be free of major
flaws. A small “ding” is acceptable.
- Centering:
A Near Mint Plus card should have very good centering. If centering is the card’s only flaw then a
minor centering offset is acceptable.
- Edges: The edges should be free of major
flaws. A small “ding” is acceptable.
- Surface:
The surface on a Near Mint Plus card should be factory fresh but may
have a small blemish such as a very small scratch or a printing blemish.
- Type of card typically in this category: Any unplayed card that would be Mint except
for a flaw visible to the naked eye. .
Near Mint:
- General: A Near Mint card should look Mint but on
closer inspection will have a minor flaw either on an edge, a corner, or its
surface. A Near Mint card is allowed to
have a few small dings or a small chip.
- Corners: The corners on a Near Mint card should be
crisp but one or two may have a small flaw such as a small ding.
- Centering: A Near Mint card should be well centered.
- Edges: The edges on a Near Mint card should be
crisp, however they typically may have a small ding or two.
- Surface: The surface of a Near Mint card should be
very fresh looking but may have a tiny scratch.
- Type of Card typically in this category: Any unplayed card straight from a pack that
might have some flaws associated with handling of the card. .
Near Mint Minus:
- General: A Near Mint Minus card should look Near
Mint except for a small number of minor flaws.
The flaws can include: small dings, small surface scratches, a minor
chip, and printing blemishes. A Near
Mint Minus card should not look like it has been played in any way.
- Corners:
The corners should be crisp but may have a small ding from handling of
the card.
- Centering:
The card should still appear to be centered, but minor offsets are
allowed.
- Edges: The edges of a Near Mint Minus card should
be free of major marks but may have a few small blemishes.
- Surface:
The surface should be fresh looking but may have a small scuff or small
scratches.
- Type of card typically in this category: An
unplayed card that has some minor flaws from handling of the card. .
Excellent:
- General: An Excellent Plus card will look very
nice upon inspection but will have marks that prevent it from being considered
Near Mint Minus. A card of this grade
might show minor signs of having been played, or may be Near Mint except for a
large ding or chip.
- Corners: The corners should be well defined but may
have slight whitening associated with play or shuffling, or may have small
dings.
- Centering:
The card may be off centered but the card face should be completely on
the card.
- Edges: An
Excellent Plus card typically has small dings or small chips on its edges.
- Surface: If the card is free of other blemishes,
major scratches can be tolerated.
Otherwise, if the card has other blemishes then only minor scratches
should be allowed.
- Type of card typically in this category: A
slightly played card. .
Excellent:
- General: An Excellent card should be free of major
flaws but will show signs of having been played. Its edges will begin to whiten, its corners will start to round and
it probably has light scratches or scuffs on its surface.
- Corners: The card may have been played enough that
the corners just start to round, or get dirty.
The corners will probably be slightly white from shuffling or playing.
- Centering: The card may be off centered but the
card face should be completely on the card.
- Edges: The
edges will show signs of having been played or will have major chips or
dings. The edges will be slightly white
around most of the card, front and back.
- Surface:
The surface will probably have light scratches or small scuffs.
- Type of card typically in this category: A well played card. .
Excellent Minus:
- General: An Excellent Minus card will be heavily
played but free of any major flaws such as creases, bends, tears, and holes.
- Corners: The corners may be very well rounded but
should still be intact.
- Centering:
Centering is not an issue with an Excellent Minus card.
- Edges: The
edges will show signs of heavy play, typically having white marks around the
entire edge of the card, front and back.
- Surface:
The surface may appear dirty, have scratches or have major scuffs.
- Type of card typically in this category: A heavily played card. .
Good:
- General: A card in Good condition is either
extremely played or will have a major flaw or defect, such as creases, small
bends or a minor tear.
- Corners:
The corners may be damaged but should still be firm.
- Centering:
Centering is not an issue with a Good card.
- Edges: The
edges typically have heavy play, but otherwise may be nice if the card has
other flaws.
- Surface: The card will typically have a small
bend, crease or hole. Or, the card will
be so heavily played that the surface has started turning white.
- Type of card typically in this category: A damaged card. .
Poor:
- General: A card in Poor condition is intact but
will have major visible flaws such as a tear, bend, or crease. Inked cards (card that have been sharpied
around their edges) also fall into the Poor category.
- Corners:
The corners may be very damaged and no longer firm. Or, the corners may even be missing.
- Centering:
Centering is not an issue with a Poor card.
- Edges: The
edges show signs of damage typically from mishandling such as bends, creases or
tears.
- Surface: The surface will look very poor.
- Type of card typically in this category: An intact but heavily damaged card.
.
Played:
- General: A
card in Played condition will look as though it has been used to play
with. Played cards have marks typically
caused by shuffling such as light creases, the start of a crease, whitening
around the edges, or scuff marks on its surface.
- Corners: The corners on a played card typically
have dings associated with handling or will have signs of whitening caused by
shuffling or play.
- Centering:
A played card may have poor centering.
- Edges: The edges of a Played card may be dirty or
will have white scuffs from handling or playing. A “krimped” card will fall under the Played category. Such a card is one that has been damaged
while it was packaged and will have ridges from where the pack was sealed
around it.
- Surface: The surface of a Played card will look
damaged from things such as scuff marks, scratches, dirt, and small
creases. Some played cards may have
writing on them such as an autograph by the artist, or a stamp from a
tournament or writing from a previous owner.
- Type of card typically in this category: Any card
that is not Near Mint, such as any card that has been played.
PSA 10:
- General:
An absolutely pristine card with no flaws, or “Gem Mint”. These cards are graded by the world famous
Professional Sports Authenticator company, uniquely identified, and sealed in a
sturdy plastic case. Cards of this
superior grade are exceptionally rare and command a high resale price.
- Equivalent Troll & Toad grade: Troll & Toad does not have an equivalent
grade but it is possible that some Troll & Toad “Mint” cards would be
graded a 10 by PSA.
PSA 8:
- General: A very visually appealing card with very
few minor flaws. This card has been
personally inspected by a representative of the Professional Sports
Authenticator company, sealed in a rigid plastic case, and uniquely identified
with a label. A PSA 8 card is considered
to be “Near Mint to Mint”.
- Equivalent Troll & Toad grade: Near Mint+.
| | |
|
