Should I Grade my Star Wars Cards?

Ultimately, whether or not to grade your Star Wars trading cards is a personal decision that should be based on your own collecting goals, budget, and preferences. If you are unsure whether grading is right for your collection, you may want to consult with other collectors or industry experts or do some research on the current market value of similar graded and ungraded cards.

Grading your Star Wars trading cards can add value and authenticity to your collection, especially if you have rare or high-quality cards that are in demand among collectors. Grading can also help protect your cards from damage and tampering and can provide a way to document the condition of your collection for insurance or resale purposes.

However, grading can also be expensive, and the cost of grading may not always be justified by the increase in value that a graded card may command. In addition, some collectors prefer to keep their cards in their original, ungraded condition, or may prefer to focus on collecting cards for their own enjoyment rather than for their potential resale value.

There are several different grading systems services used for trading cards, Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Sportscard Guaranty (SGC).

The choice between PSA, SGC, BGS, or other grading services depends on individual preferences and the specific needs of the collector or dealer. Addition advice can be sort from experienced collectors experience. One such collector – Paul Holstein has graded over 10,000 Cards.

Beckett Grading Services (BGS)

• Grading system:  scale of 1 to 10, with half-point increments,
• Also provides subgrades for centering, corners, edges, and surface condition.
• Has an attention to detail and consistency in grading.Uses a team of experienced graders who evaluate each card in a consistent and objective manner.
• Offer a tamper-evident, serialized label to ensure the authenticity and security of each graded card.

Sportscard Guaranty (SGC).

• Grading system: 1 to 100, with 100 being the best possible grade.
• Attention to detail and consistency in grading.
• Uses a team of experienced graders who evaluate each card in a consistent and objective manner.
• Provides a tamper-evident, serialized label to ensure the authenticity and security of each graded card.

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)

• Grading system: 1 to 10 with 10 being the Best possible card.
• Uses advanced technology, including high-resolution imaging and artificial intelligence, to help ensure accuracy and consistency in its grading process.
• Uses a team of experienced graders who use a rigorous and consistent grading system.
• They evaluate each card based on its centering, corners, edges, surface condition, and overall eye appeal.

On a final note: my thoughts are Graded cards are highly respected and sought after by collectors and dealers around the world, and can command premium prices at auction or in private sales. Graded cards also provide a tamper-evident, serialized label and database registration service, which adds an extra level of security and confidence for buyers and sellers.

General Grading Scale of Cards

Grading	Condition	Description
10	Gem Mint	Virtually perfect in every way, sharp corners, no imperfections, perfect centering.
9	Mint	Close to perfect, with only minor imperfections visible under close inspection.
8	Near Mint-Mint	Nearly perfect, with only very slight imperfections visible upon close inspection.
7	Near Mint	Only minor signs of wear, with no major flaws or damage.
6	Excellent-Mint	Some signs of wear, but is still in excellent condition.
5	Excellent	Moderate wear, but still has good color and no major creases.
4	Very Good-Excellent	Significant wear, but still has decent eye appeal.
3	Very Good	Heavy wear, with creases and other damage, but is still a collectible card.
2	Good	Significant wear and damage but are still recognizable as the intended card.
1	Bad	Heavily damaged and barely recognizable as the intended card.