Grading scale for non-sports cards

I am not a professional card grader, and the condition categories listed for non-sport trading cards are based on my personal assessment and experience. These descriptions are meant to serve as a general guide to help you understand the overall condition of each card. While I do my best to describe and photograph items accurately, opinions on grading can vary. If, after receiving your purchase, you feel that the card’s condition does not match the description, you are welcome to return it for a refund—your satisfaction is important to me.

• Mint (M): A card in Mint condition is considered perfect, as though it were fresh out of the pack. It should be completely free of surface damage, and the corners, edges, and centering should be flawless. Some grading services use Gem Mint (10) for a perfect card and Mint (9) for a near-perfect one.
• Near Mint (NM): A Near Mint card appears mostly fresh, with only slight imperfections. This can include one or two minor flaws that aren't immediately obvious, such as very small white spots on the edges or minor surface scratches.
• Excellent (EX): A card in Excellent condition shows some minor wear, which is noticeable upon closer inspection. This can include slight corner or edge wear, minor surface scratches, or a bit of whitening on the front or back.
• Very Good (VG): A Very Good card has moderate but not severe damage. It may show rounding on the corners, noticeable surface wear, moderate scratching, and some discoloration or staining.
• Good (GD): A Good condition card is "pretty beat up" and shows clear signs of significant wear. Corners will be noticeably worn and frayed, and the card will have multiple surface issues, such as heavier scratches and wear.
• Fair (FR): A Fair condition card shows extensive wear and multiple defects. Examples include major scuffing, scratching, and staining that might affect the card's image.
• Poor (PR): A Poor condition card is significantly damaged or missing parts. It will have major flaws like severe creases, tears, extreme discoloration, paper loss, or stains.

Key factors considered for grading

Surface: Any marks, scratches, or wear on the card's surface will impact its grade. This includes scuffing, loss of original gloss, and indentations.

Corners: The sharpness and condition of the card's corners are a major factor. As a card's condition worsens, its corners will start to show whitening, fraying, or rounding.

Edges: The edges are evaluated for chipping, whitening, and roughness. Damage to the edges indicates how much the card has been handled.

Centering: A well-centered card has equal-sized borders on all sides. Off-center printing is a common manufacturing flaw and will reduce a card's grade, even if it is otherwise in perfect condition.