A plain-English breakdown of what condition abbreviations and grading numbers actually mean — so you always know exactly what's landing in your mailbox.
Every raw card we list is condition-graded by eye under real light, not fluorescent showroom lighting that hides flaws. Every slab we list is graded by an independent third-party company, sealed in plastic, and never touched by human hands again. Here's exactly what those labels mean.
Raw Card Conditions
The standard used across the secondary market for ungraded singles — what we use on every raw listing.
NM
Near Mint
Sharp corners, no visible scratches or scuffing, no whitening on the edges. As close to pack-fresh as a handled card gets. This is what most collectors are hoping for.
LP
Lightly Played
Minor edge wear or light scuffing visible on close inspection, corners very slightly soft. Still displays beautifully from any normal viewing distance — great value for players and casual collectors.
MP
Moderately Played
Noticeable whitening on corners and edges, visible scratching on the surface, possibly slight bending. Fully playable and still an honest way to own a card at a lower price point.
HP
Heavily Played
Significant wear — creasing, heavy whitening, notable surface damage. Budget-friendly and still tournament-legal in most cases, but we'll always call this out clearly rather than let it surprise you.
We don't list anything below Heavily Played. If a card has damage beyond that (tears, water damage, writing), we simply don't sell it.
Understanding Graded Slabs
Grading companies authenticate a card, assess its condition against strict standards, then permanently seal it in a tamper-proof case with the grade printed on the label.
PSA
Professional Sports Authenticator. The most widely recognized name in the hobby, with the deepest resale liquidity — a PSA 10 is usually the easiest grade to sell.
CGC
Certified Guaranty Company. Built its reputation grading comics before expanding into cards — known for a clean case design and a "Pristine 10" tier above standard Gem Mint.
BGS
Beckett Grading Services. Known for the strictest standards and detailed subgrades — a "Black Label" BGS 10 (perfect 10 on every subgrade) is among the rarest, most valuable results possible.
The Four Things Every Grader Checks
Centering
How evenly the image sits within the border, front and back.
Corners
Sharpness at all four points — any softness or whitening counts against it.
Edges
The card's outer rim, checked for chipping, fraying, or whitening.
Surface
Scratches, print lines, indentations, or any texture flaw across the face.
The 1–10 Grade Scale
10Gem Mint — as close to perfect as it gets
9Mint — one very minor flaw at most
8NM-Mint — light wear visible on close inspection
7Near Mint — minor surface or edge wear
6Excellent-Mint — noticeable but modest wear
5Excellent — moderate, visible wear
1–4Good to Poor — well-loved, played-with cards
Every grading company follows this same basic 1–10 logic, though exact standards differ slightly between PSA, CGC, and BGS — which is part of why the same physical card can occasionally receive a different number from each.