Every card in the collection is graded by a recognised third party and stays sealed in its tamper-evident holder. This page explains what the grades mean and how to verify any card yourself.
The graders
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) grades on a 1–10 scale in half-point steps at the top end. It is the most widely recognised grade in the hobby and generally carries the strongest resale liquidity.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) uses the same 1–10 range but publishes four sub-grades — centring, corners, edges and surface — on the label, so you can see exactly where a card lost points.
What the numbers mean
- 10 — Gem Mint. Effectively flawless to the naked eye. Sharp corners, clean edges, near-perfect centring.
- 9.5 — Gem Mint (BGS) / Mint+ . One minor flaw away from a 10, usually centring.
- 9 — Mint. Excellent card with one visible minor flaw — slight off-centring or a touch of edge wear.
- 8.5 / 8 — Near Mint–Mint. Clean and displayable, with minor wear visible on close inspection.
- 7 and below. Increasingly visible handling: soft corners, surface marks, noticeable off-centring.
A grade describes condition only. It says nothing about whether a card is rare or desirable — a 10 of a common card is still a common card.
Verify a certification number
Every slab carries a unique certification number on its label. Both graders publish a free lookup, so you can confirm a card independently of us — before or after you buy.
- PSA: enter the number in the Cert Verification tool at psacard.com.
- BGS: use the Beckett Grading report lookup at beckett.com.
The lookup should return the same card, set, year and grade shown on our listing. If anything does not match, tell us and we will withdraw the listing.
Autographs
Autographed cards in this collection are manufacturer-witnessed — signed under the card company’s supervision and encapsulated with the signature intact. That is the strongest form of authentication available, stronger than a post-hoc opinion on a loose signature.
Inspecting a card on arrival
Check the slab before anything else: it should be sealed, uncracked, and the label should be flush and unmarked. Confirm the certification number matches the listing, then run the lookup.
Do not crack a slab you may want to resell — the grade does not survive it. If something is wrong, contact us before opening anything. See Returns.