Last updated: August 2026
Condition is half the price of any card. This guide explains the terms we use when describing single cards — sports and TCG alike — so you know exactly what you are buying. Condition assessment is ultimately subjective; collectors, dealers and professional grading companies can and do disagree.
Before the ladder
- Raw (unslabbed) cards are not professionally graded unless the listing says so.
- Our condition notes are honest opinions, not guarantees.
- Minor imperfections can exist on modern cards straight from the pack.
- Professional graders may assign a different grade to the same card.
- If you need certainty, choose a professionally graded slab.
The condition ladder
Mint (MT)
Virtually flawless on casual inspection: sharp corners, clean edges, strong surface, excellent centring, no visible wear. Even a Mint-looking card is not guaranteed a Gem Mint 10 from a grading company.
Near Mint–Mint (NM-MT)
Strong overall eye appeal with only minor flaws on close inspection: small surface marks, slight edge or corner wear, minor print lines.
Near Mint (NM)
The standard most collectors expect of modern cards — and where most pack-pulled cards land. Sharp corners, minor edge wear, minor surface or print imperfections, slight centring variation.
Excellent (EX)
Moderate signs of handling or age: noticeable corner wear, edge wear, surface scratches, minor discolouration, moderate centring issues. Still attractive; no longer high-grade.
Very Good (VG)
Clear signs of use: rounded corners, surface wear, multiple scratches, edge chipping, minor creases, printing imperfections. Popular with set builders and budget collectors.
Good (GD)
Substantial wear: heavy corner and edge wear, surface damage, creases, staining, discolouration. The card remains identifiable and collectible, but well-loved.
Fair (FR)
Heavy wear and handling: multiple creases, surface damage, writing, staining, heavy edge wear, noticeable visual defects. Budget collector copies.
Poor (PR)
Extensive wear and damage: major creases, tears, missing paper or ink, water damage, writing, significant structural harm. Minimal collector value, except for genuinely scarce cards.
How we look at a card
Surface
Even modern cards can carry factory flaws: print lines, roller marks, scratches, dimples and chrome or holo haze — sometimes the moment a pack is opened. Foil and full-art TCG cards show surface issues fastest, so we check them under raking light.
Corners
Sharpness, whitening, fraying, bends and softening. Even a small corner flaw can move a grading outcome by a full point.
Edges
Chipping, whitening, fraying, factory cut quality and handling wear. Dark-bordered sports cards betray edge wear quickest; on TCG cards we always check the back for whitening too.
Centring
How evenly the image sits within its borders, front and back. Factory centring varies widely — especially on modern TCG full arts — and it affects grading results.
Autographs and relics
For autograph cards, the authenticity of manufacturer-certified signatures is determined by the manufacturer; sticker placement and signature strength vary, and smudges or light signatures happen. Relic and patch swatches vary naturally in colour, texture and appearance — that is the fabric, not a flaw.
Graded cards
The grade on a slab is assigned by the grading company — PSA, BGS, SGC or CGC — at the time of grading, and we never alter grades. Slabs can carry minor scratches or scuffs from normal handling and storage; the card inside is what was graded. Every slab we sell can be cert-verified on the grading company’s own website.
Sealed products
We cannot see inside sealed product, so we cannot guarantee the condition of the cards within. Factory defects occur before the shrink-wrap goes on and are controlled by the manufacturer.
Photos on request
Ask before you buy: for any single card, we will happily send fresh photos or a short video of the actual card you would receive — corners, edges, surface and back — so there are no surprises when it lands.
Condition questions
If a card arrives and you feel our description missed the mark, tell us within 7 days of delivery with photos. We will review it fairly — see Returns & Refunds — and your statutory rights always apply.
Contact us
Bags of Swank
John St, Ballymoney BT53 6DS, United Kingdom
Email: sales@bagsofswank.co.uk
Phone: +44 7853 14596342
Our goal is accurate descriptions, transparent communication and no nasty surprises — for every collector, on every order.