Sportscards have become a multi-million dollar industry in recent years, and people are making good money buying and selling them. The industry has been around for many years, and the values of the cards can literally go into the millions of dollars. One of the primary things one needs to know about baseball card collecting is how to recognize condition. This article will help you know how to properly assess condition, and how that affects values.
Baseball cards that are considered vintage are getting harder to come by in recent years. Many people threw them out back during a time when they were better used as noise makers for the spokes of their bikes for toys. Those cards from pre-1970 or so are now incredibly valuable, and even more so if they are in mint condition.
Todays baseball cards have really only one condition that holds any value at all. If a modern card is not in mint condition, then it is not even really worth having. The reason for this is because modern ball cards are mass produced in comparison to the rarity of the older cards, and only the pick of the litter are worthy of collecting. There are a scant few exceptions to this rule, but generally any card made after 1980 needs to be in mint condition for you to buy it.
So what makes a mint condition baseball card? When you are looking at a raw, ungraded baseball card, you really should take the time to check it closely. Using a magnifying glass is the most effective way to check it out, but it can also be done with the naked eye.
Hold the card up to the light at an angle so that the light is gleaming on the surface of the card. Is there any scratches or imperfections in the surface of the card? Next, check each of the four corners of the baseball card. Are the four corners razor sharp? Even the slightest little ding can drop the value of a card to near nothing. Check the edges of the card for dings as well.
Next, you will want to check the picture and the back of the card for printer’s marks, or blurry images. Any slight blur in the picture or printers dots can be a sign of a fake, so make sure you look at this closely. Are the pictures sharp and the colors bright and vibrant?
Finally, you will want to check the centering on the card. This can be tricky if you do not know the design of the card, but generally you should have the same amount of space on either side of the photograph. Also check the stats and writing on the back to make sure they are well centered. This will ensure that you have a balanced baseball card.
If you do all of these things, and the card passes those tests, then you have a nrmt to mint baseball card on your hands. Today you can actually have a card graded to lock in a grade for a card. If you buy graded cards, you will pay a premium, but you will be assured of it’s quality for your collection.
