How we grade
Numbers, not opinions
you can’t see
Grades are numbers only — no letter grades, no vague adjectives. Regular service authenticates a card and assigns one whole-number grade on the 1–10 scale. Advanced service scores four core factors individually and builds the overall grade from those subgrades — with a written justification and photos for every one.
The 1–10 scale
Half points (9.5, 8.5) on Advanced service
How the Advanced grade is built
On Advanced service the overall grade is not a simple average. Inspired by Beckett’s methodology, the lowest of the four subgrades sets the floor, and the overall can climb only a little above it — a half point when one factor is uniquely low, a full point only when the floor is low and the other three sit well above it. A perfect 10 requires all four subgrades to be 10; a 9.5 requires none below 9.5. Two more factors — eye appeal and cleanliness — never print on the label: they’re scored in the online record only, and they can lift or cap the result.
Core subgrades — printed on the label
Hidden factors — online record only, never printed
Overall grade
The four core subgrades print on the slab label. Eye appeal and cleanliness live only in the online record — scan the slab’s QR and the full math is on the card’s page. Regular service reports a single whole-number grade.
What we grade on
The four core factors each earn their own numeric subgrade on Advanced service (and fold into the single number on Regular). Advanced adds five deeper factors of forensic analysis.
Centering
How evenly the image sits inside the borders, front and back.
We measure the exact front and back border ratios to the nearest percent (e.g. 55/45 L-R, 60/40 T-B), grade each face independently, and publish a measured centering overlay diagram alongside both scans.
Scored 1–10 individually on Advanced · folded into the single grade on Regular
Corners
Sharpness, fraying, and wear at all four corners.
Each corner is photographed individually at high magnification with its own written finding, so the exact condition of every corner is documented rather than summarized.
Scored 1–10 individually on Advanced · folded into the single grade on Regular
Edges
Whitening, chipping, and nicks along all four edges.
All four edges are photographed under raking light that exposes the smallest chips and roughness, each with its own written finding.
Scored 1–10 individually on Advanced · folded into the single grade on Regular
Surface
Scratches, print lines, dents, staining, and wear on the card face.
The surface is scanned under raking light and at high magnification; every scratch, print line, and indentation is mapped and photographed, with a written note on gloss retention and any staining.
Scored 1–10 individually on Advanced · folded into the single grade on Regular
Eye Appeal
How the card presents to the naked eye — color pop, focus, and overall visual impression beyond the technical measurements.
We judge the card as a collector sees it in hand: color vibrancy, image focus, registration snap, and whether technical flaws are actually visible at arm’s length. A card that measures imperfect but presents pack-fresh earns recognition here — and it can lift the overall grade.
Cleanliness
Discoloration, toning, residue, and handling film — conditions that may improve with professional care.
We document toning, staining, wax or gum residue, fingerprinting, and surface film separately from permanent surface damage, because many of these conditions are improvable. Heavy discoloration caps the overall grade; a spotless card protects it.
Print Quality & Registration
Ink registration, dot pattern, and factory print defects.
Under magnification we evaluate color-layer registration, dot pattern integrity, and any factory print defects (miscuts, print dots, roller lines), and grade how cleanly the card was printed.
Gloss & Finish
Sheen retention and foil / holographic integrity.
We assess how much of the original factory gloss remains and, on foil or holographic cards, the integrity of the finish — checking for scratches, clouding, and whitening that only appear under directed light.
Color & Eye Appeal
Vibrancy, contrast, focus, and overall visual impact.
We rate color vibrancy, contrast, and image focus against a reference for the issue, capturing the overall eye appeal that separates two cards with otherwise identical technical grades.
Structural Integrity
Flatness, warping, card stock, and thickness.
We measure the card for flatness and warp, confirm the stock and thickness match a genuine example, and check for delamination or bumps that indicate handling or restoration.
Authentication & Alterations
Genuineness plus a check for trimming, recoloring, and restoration.
A dedicated authentication pass, including a UV examination, confirms the card is genuine and unaltered — screening for trimming, recoloring, rebacking, and other restoration. Every card we slab is authenticated; Advanced service documents the exam.
Ready to see it applied to your card?
Both service levels are authenticated, encapsulated, and get a private registry record. Turnaround is 60–80 days.