The 5 key points you need to know to grade your collectible cards

We will help you avoid making some of the most common mistakes when deciding whether or not to grade a card in your collection. The first thing you should know is that it doesn’t matter if they are Magic, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh or Dragon Ball cards, these steps work for any collectible card game. These are the 5 key points that everyone does and which we recommend you learn.

1. THE RARITY OF A CARD IS IMPORTANT IN GRADING 

The rarer your collectible card is, the better. It makes a big difference if there are 20,000  rather 1,000 of the same cards in the world. Cards with fewer copies in circulation are ALWAYS going to be better priced than cards that are more common and easier to find and are therefore an excellent choice for grading.

BE CAREFUL! Don’t confuse cards that are hard to find on the market with what people often call “rare cards” in collections, (e.g., ones with the ☆ sign in Pokémon).

For example, one of the most exclusive and rare Pokémon cards in existence is the famous Pikachu Illustrator. It is so scarce that only 39 copies were issued in 1998. To date it is the most expensive card ever sold, as Logan Paul recently acquired a graded copy (with a perfect grade) for $5 million.

You may have realised by now, this point is very important.

 

2. OLD CARDS ARE VALUABLE, GRADE THEM!

Cards from older expansions, that date back years, are valued highly among collectors. The reason behind this is simple: as time goes by, there are fewer and fewer old cards left in good condition, either due to poor storage, poor quality protectors or unfortunate accidents. So now you know, if you have old cards and want to protect them so that they retain their value, grading them is highly recommended. 

Think about the future! Years from now, if you keep your current cards in a good condition, you will have old cards that will be worth a pretty penny. To ensure that your cards age well, grade those that are valuable and keep the others in special albums or boxes. Remember that sleeves and albums must always be acid and PVC free to avoid damaging your cards!

 

3. EVALUATE YOUR CARDS BEFORE SENDING THEM FOR GRADING

Cards from older expansions, that date back years, are valued highly among collectors. The reason behind this is simple: as time goes by, there are fewer and fewer old cards left in good condition, either due to poor storage, poor quality protectors or unfortunate accidents. So now you know, if you have old cards and want to protect them so that they retain their value, grading them is highly recommended. 

Think about the future! Years from now, if you keep your current cards in a good condition, you will have old cards that will be worth a pretty penny. To ensure that your cards age well, grade those that are valuable and keep the others in special albums or boxes. Remember that sleeves and albums must always be acid and PVC free to avoid damaging your cards!

 

4. GRADING HIGHLY VALUABLE CARDS

As is often said, there is an unwritten rule that says it is always better to grade valuable cards than worthless ones. Cards tend to increase in value and price over time, but this is rarely the case for the cheapest cards. Effectively, expensive cards will become even more expensive over time, while cheap cards will see little change in their price.

The FCA’s recommendation is that you make sure to authenticate those cards that hold a considerable financial value. By grading them, they will keep their condition forever (thanks to the card case) and you will not only prevent them from losing their value, but you will also see how, as time goes by, they become more and more valuable.

 

5. SENTIMENTAL VALUE IS IMPORTANT IN GRADING 

Every collector has a special card in their collection, one that they are enormously fond of. For some it is the first card in their collection, for others it is a gift from somebody special. Which card is it for you?

At Fantasy Cards Authenticator we know that you cannot put a price on a card like this and that you are more concerned about keeping it in a perfect condition. The best way to do this is through grading. There is no safer and more effective method than casing to protect your cards.

If you have cards that are so valuable that the mere thought of them being damaged horrifies you, don’t wait any longer, let us grade them for you!

 

This brings us to the end of the article, but allow us to make one last point. You are now an expert in selecting the best cards to send for authentication and grading, and you may even already have some in your collection! If this is the case, at FCA (Fantasy Cards Authenticator) we are here for you. We know that you will love the service we provide.

GRADE NOW!