TCGemsYou will often hear collectors say raw, slabbed or gem mint. Here is what those words mean.
Raw
A raw card is an ungraded card: straight from the pack, in a sleeve or in a binder. Most cards people own are raw. The prices TCGems shows are for raw cards.
Graded
A grading company inspects the card, gives it a score and seals it in a clear plastic case, called a slab. Well-known graders include PSA, Beckett (BGS) and CGC.
What the graders look at
Centering (how even the borders are), corners, edges and the surface. Small whitening on the back edges or a light scratch on the holo can lower the grade.
The scale
Grades usually run from 1 to 10. A 10 is the top grade. At PSA a 10 is called Gem Mint, which is where the phrase comes from. A 9 is Mint.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs money and takes time, so collectors usually grade cards that are already valuable raw, or that mean a lot to them. A high grade can make a card worth much more than its raw price; a low grade can make it worth less.
Before you decide
Check the raw price first, look closely at the card’s centering and edges under good light, and keep it in a sleeve and toploader while you decide.