Getting set up
Conditions, finishes & grading
What condition, finish, and grade mean for a card.
Three attributes describe the exact copy you own, and they matter because they affect how a card is valued.
Condition
How well-kept the card is, from Near Mint (NM) down through Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP), to Damaged. A worn copy is worth less than a pristine one, so recording it honestly keeps your value accurate.
Finish
The print finish: Normal, Holo, Reverse Holo, or Special. The same card number can exist in several finishes at very different values, so the finish is part of what identifies your copy.
Grading
A graded (slabbed) card records the grading company — PSA, CGC, BGS, or ACE — and its grade. Graded copies are valued and tracked on their own, separate from raw cards of the same card.