Raw Card Condition Guide

We know that buying raw vintage cards online requires absolute trust. Every raw card in our inventory is thoroughly inspected under direct light. We intentionally lean conservative with our raw condition tags so there are no surprises when your order arrives.

High-resolution front and back photos are provided for every single raw card listing so you can evaluate centering, corners, edges, and surface appeal for yourself.

1. Near Mint to Mint (NM / NM-MT)

Overall Impression: High-grade, exceptionally clean vintage cards with premium eye appeal.
Corners: Sharp to the naked eye; may show micro-touch or minimal softness under close inspection.
Edges & Borders: Crisp, full borders with clean edges and virtually no chipping.
Surface: Maintains strong original factory gloss; free of creases, wrinkles, or surface scratches.
Centering: Generally 70/30 or better.

2. Excellent (EX / EX-MT)

Overall Impression: Sharp, highly collectible cards displaying light, natural vintage age with no major defects.
Corners: Minor corner wear or slight fraying visible upon close inspection, but no heavy rounding.
Edges & Borders: Light edge wear, minor print specks, or light wax residue on the reverse.
Surface: Strong original color and gloss; may feature a subtle surface hair-scratch or pinhole-sized wax spot, but no major creasing.
Centering: Typically 80/20 or better.

3. Very Good (VG / VG-EX)

Overall Impression: Honest mid-grade vintage cards showing typical handling from their era while preserving great overall visual character.
Corners: Moderate rounding or fuzzing on two or more corners.
Edges & Borders: Visible edge flaking, minor border toning/yellowing, or slight chipping.
Surface: May exhibit light surface creasing, mild print defects, lost gloss, or minor scuffing. Free of severe paper tears.
Centering: May be noticeably off-center, but retains full card borders.

4. Good to Poor / Filler (GD / PR / Authentic)

Overall Impression: Budget-friendly, well-loved vintage pieces—ideal for collectors filling high-value Hall of Fame set gaps on a budget.
Corners: Significant rounding, heavy softness, or notched corners.
Edges & Borders: Heavy edge wear, severe chipping, or noticeable age staining.
Surface: May show visible creasing, surface scuffing, pinholes, tape/wax residue, or minor paper loss.
Centering: Miscut or extreme off-centering possible.

Important Notes for Buyers

Raw vs. Graded: Raw condition tags are internal visual evaluations and do not guarantee a specific numeric grade from third-party grading services (PSA, SGC, etc.).
Authenticity Guaranteed: We do not knowingly sell trimmed, recolored, or altered raw vintage cards. Every card sold is guaranteed 100% authentic.