How can you tell if a card is graded?

Answer 1

Graded cards are encapsulated in a plastic tamper-evident case. Card collectors will refer to the encapsulated Graded cardas being "Slabbed."

Slabbed - A term used to describe a professionally graded card that has been encapsulated in a sonically sealed card holder.

Popular card graders include PSA, BGS SGC and GAI.

For example After a PSA graded card is graded each card is sonically sealed inside a protective, tamper-evident PSA holder with a tagged label that shows its certification number, manufacturer, grade, date, unique bar code and player's name. This label appears above the card that is graded. Grade - A description of the condition of a sports card or Sports Memorabilia item. Grade is always a big component of price. The higher the grade, the more desirable, and consequently, the more valuable the item. Nowadays nearly all valuable sports cards are graded using the 10 Point Grading Scale established by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) in 1991.

Graded cards could sell as high as double the book value or more. For other Baseball card grading terms and more visit the Glossary Of Baseball Collectible Terms link I left below.