Hobbies And Interests
Magnifying Glass
Most sports card grading companies evaluate submissions based on four parameters: the sharpness of the corners, the smoothness of the edges, the quality of the front and back surfaces and the overall card centering. The majority of these features can be viewed up-close with a standard magnifying glass. When evaluating corners, the collector should look for any rounding or wearing of corners. These flaws can reduce the value of a card, particularly if they exist on multiple corners. A card in mint condition will feature four sharp corners. A card's edges should be crisp and straight, with no fraying. Both sides of the card should be free of defects, including creases, markings or factory glitches like ink runs or stains.
Ruler
Vintage baseball cards were cut with far less care, resulting in many cards being printed off-center. This makes well-centered cards worth considerably more to diehards and casual collectors. Some centering issues can be seen with the naked eye, particularly those where the card is dramatically off-center. The best way to verify whether a card is centered is to use a small ruler and measure the borders of the card. This goes for the left and right borders, and the top and bottom borders. The closer these borders are to being equal, the better grade it will receive.
Internet Search Engine
Access to an Internet search engine will prove valuable for people looking to grade cards that feature autographs. Conducting online searches of player autographs should produce images of other items signed by the player. This will provide the collector with a cross-section of autograph samples that can be used to judge the quality of his signing. A good autograph will feature consistent ink pressure throughout the signature, without any smudges or faint spots. A search also helps in judging the authenticity of the signature. If the autograph differs in style from the samples shown online, consider it to be a fake.