Card Grading Basics: An Introduction to Grading Sports Cards
Grading sports cards can be a profitable adventure. Older cards, especially of the vintage era, are rarely seen at high grades and would therefore garner top dollar if graded as such. More recent cards are the exact opposite. The values for these cards are centered on those that receive a mint or pristine grading. With each blemish, these cards lose significant value. Grading can be done at home or professionally. When selling cards, professional grading will eliminate many of the potential questions about the grade.
The areas that sports cards are graded typically fall in two areas. The first area is factory production. These are factors that the collector cannot control. For example, the centering of the card is checked for grading. If the card is off center but otherwise pristine it will still lose some value. In the past other factory conditions included the residue from gum left on the backs of cards.
The second of the areas that cards are graded are handling factors. The most common is the checking of the corners of the card. While this can be a production factor, as well, many cards are damaged by improper or excessive handling. A grader will look at the corners to ensure that all four are sharp and pointed and not rounded or bent. Other handling factors are bends that appear from mishandling or in the case of vintage cards, bike spokes. Any writing or drawing also lowers value unless of course it is an authenticated signature.
Hey
Do you guys have any contacts for pricing up my cards collection?
Cheers
Hey Chad
I suggest that you look on the internet for local card dealers and get a valuation there. Alternatively you can scan a sample of your collection and I would be happy to give you an opinion based on my experience but as always I recommend you do get more than one opinion so you can be sure that your are getting the right price for your collection.