Centering
Measures how well the image is positioned within the card borders. Perfect centering means equal borders on all sides.
Critical for higher grades (9-10)Behind every grade
Understanding Our Grading Standards
We use a precise 10-point grading scale to evaluate every card
Our professional graders examine each card under specialized lighting and magnification, evaluating four key areas: centering, corners, edges, and surface. This comprehensive approach ensures accurate, consistent grading that the market trusts.
Every detail matters
The Four Pillars of Grading
Every card is evaluated across four critical dimensions.
Corners
Evaluates the sharpness and condition of all four corners. Wear, rounding, or fraying reduces the grade.
Most visible defect areaEdges
Examines the card edges for chipping, whitening, or roughness. Clean, crisp edges indicate better condition.
Shows handling historySurface
Inspects for scratches, print defects, staining, or other surface imperfections on both front and back.
Affects overall eye appealThe Pristine label
Four 10s.
Pristine.
A final grade of 10. A 10 in centering, corners, edges, and surface. When every subgrade earns a 10, the card earns GSM’s Pristine label.
Black and platinum, with the card’s design colour carried through. Pristine is awarded automatically from the recorded grades; a Gem Mint 10 with a lower or missing subgrade keeps the standard label.
Gem State MintPerfect 10
10Pristine
- Centering
- 10
- Corners
- 10
- Edges
- 10
- Surface
- 10
Every subgrade. The highest standard.
The 10-point scale
Understand the number.
Select a grade to explore its criteria for centering, corners, edges, and surface.
Grade 10 · Gem Mint
A card that is virtually flawless. Centering must be near perfect, and the card shows no visible wear under close inspection.
Centering
- Front
- 50/50 to 55/45
- Back
- 50/50 to 60/40
Near perfect centering on both sides with minimal tolerance for variation.
Corners
- Standard
- Perfect
Corners are sharp and perfect to the naked eye. Under magnification, corners show no wear, fraying, or rounding.
Edges
- Standard
- Perfect
Edges are crisp and clean with no visible chipping, wear, or whitening. Card maintains factory-fresh appearance.
Surface
- Standard
- Flawless
Surface is completely free of printing defects, scratches, indentations, or any other blemishes. Gloss is original and uniform.
Typical examples
- Pack-fresh modern cards with perfect centering
- Cards with exceptional eye appeal
- No visible defects even under magnification
Grade 9 · Mint
A card in superb condition with only minor imperfections that are difficult to detect.
Centering
- Front
- 50/50 to 60/40
- Back
- 55/45 to 70/30
Excellent centering with slight variance allowed. Image remains well-positioned.
Corners
- Standard
- Sharp
Corners appear sharp to the naked eye. Minor imperfections may be visible only under close magnification.
Edges
- Standard
- Near Perfect
Edges are clean with at most one or two very minor imperfections that don't detract from overall appearance.
Surface
- Standard
- Excellent
Surface may show one or two very minor printing imperfections or extremely light surface wear. Original gloss is well-maintained.
Typical examples
- High-grade vintage cards with minimal aging
- Modern cards with slight centering variance
- Cards with exceptional eye appeal despite minor flaws
Grade 8 · Near Mint-Mint
A card with very light wear. Still presents very well with minor issues.
Centering
- Front
- 55/45 to 65/35
- Back
- 60/40 to 75/25
Good centering but noticeable variance. Image may be slightly off-center but still well-framed.
Corners
- Standard
- Very Light Wear
Corners show very slight wear or fraying. May have one corner with light touch wear visible under magnification.
Edges
- Standard
- Light Wear
Edges may show very light chipping or slight roughness. Minor whitening may be present but not excessive.
Surface
- Standard
- Very Good
Surface may have minor printing defects, very light scratches, or slight wear. A small print spot or minor surface mark is acceptable.
Typical examples
- Well-kept vintage cards with light handling
- Modern cards with noticeable centering issues
- Cards with one or two minor surface marks
Grade 7 · Near Mint
A card with light wear. Shows some signs of use but remains attractive.
Centering
- Front
- 60/40 to 70/30
- Back
- 65/35 to 80/20
Centering is off but image is still well-positioned. Borders show noticeable size variance.
Corners
- Standard
- Light Wear
Corners show light wear or slight fuzzing. Multiple corners may show minor imperfections.
Edges
- Standard
- Moderate Wear
Edges may have light chipping, minor roughness, or whitening along portions of the edge.
Surface
- Standard
- Good
Surface shows light wear, minor scratches, or printing defects. May have a few small print spots or light surface scratches.
Typical examples
- Vintage cards with light play wear
- Cards with noticeable but not severe centering
- Cards with multiple minor imperfections
Grade 6 · Excellent-Mint
A card with moderate wear but still in nice condition with good eye appeal.
Centering
- Front
- 65/35 to 75/25
- Back
- 70/30 to 85/15
Centering is noticeably off. Image may touch border on one or more sides.
Corners
- Standard
- Moderate Wear
Corners show noticeable wear, slight rounding, or fuzzing. Three or four corners may be affected.
Edges
- Standard
- Visible Wear
Edges show chipping, roughness, or whitening. Edge wear is clearly visible but not severe.
Surface
- Standard
- Moderate Wear
Surface shows noticeable wear, scratches, or print defects. May have several print spots or light surface marks.
Typical examples
- Cards with noticeable handling wear
- Vintage cards with visible aging
- Cards with poor centering but otherwise acceptable
Grade 5 · Excellent
A card with obvious wear but no major creases. Structure remains intact.
Centering
- Front
- 70/30 to 80/20 or worse
- Back
- 75/25 to 90/10 or worse
Centering is poor. Image likely touches border on multiple sides or is severely off-center.
Corners
- Standard
- Obvious Wear
Corners show obvious wear, rounding, or fuzzing. All corners typically affected with visible damage.
Edges
- Standard
- Significant Wear
Edges have significant chipping, roughness, or whitening. Edge wear is pronounced and easily visible.
Surface
- Standard
- Noticeable Wear
Surface shows significant wear, scratches, or print defects. May have print lines, staining, or moderate scratching.
Typical examples
- Well-loved cards with years of handling
- Cards with significant centering issues
- Cards showing obvious age and use
Grade 4 · Very Good-Excellent
A card with significant wear but no major damage. Card remains intact.
Centering
- Front
- Very Poor
- Back
- Very Poor
Centering is very poor and may severely impact image presentation.
Corners
- Standard
- Heavy Wear
Corners show heavy wear and rounding. Obvious fraying or significant corner damage present.
Edges
- Standard
- Heavy Wear
Edges show heavy chipping, significant roughness, or extensive whitening throughout.
Surface
- Standard
- Significant Damage
Surface shows significant damage including heavy scratches, staining, or print defects. Light creasing may be present.
Typical examples
- Cards with heavy play wear
- Cards with significant surface damage
- Cards that remain structurally intact despite wear
Grade 3 · Very Good
A card with major wear including possible creasing. Card shows significant handling.
Centering
- Front
- Irrelevant
- Back
- Irrelevant
Centering is not a major factor at this grade level.
Corners
- Standard
- Severe Wear
Corners are heavily worn, rounded, or frayed. May have corner loss or severe damage.
Edges
- Standard
- Severe Wear
Edges are heavily damaged with extensive chipping, roughness, or edge loss.
Surface
- Standard
- Major Damage
Surface has major damage including creases, heavy scratching, staining, or print defects. One or more creases present.
Typical examples
- Cards with visible creases
- Cards with major surface damage
- Cards that have seen extensive use
Grade 2 · Good
A card with extensive wear and major defects. Structurally compromised.
Centering
- Front
- Not Applicable
- Back
- Not Applicable
Centering is not considered at this grade.
Corners
- Standard
- Extreme Wear
Corners are extremely worn, completely rounded, or show significant loss of material.
Edges
- Standard
- Extreme Wear
Edges show extreme wear with significant loss of material, severe chipping, or damage.
Surface
- Standard
- Extreme Damage
Surface has extreme damage including multiple creases, heavy staining, severe scratching, or significant print loss.
Typical examples
- Cards with multiple creases
- Cards with extreme surface damage
- Cards barely recognizable as the original
Grade 1 · Poor
A card in poor condition with extreme wear and major structural damage.
Centering
- Front
- Not Applicable
- Back
- Not Applicable
Centering is irrelevant at this grade.
Corners
- Standard
- Destroyed
Corners are destroyed, missing, or show severe material loss.
Edges
- Standard
- Destroyed
Edges are severely damaged or missing. Card may have tears or chunks missing.
Surface
- Standard
- Destroyed
Surface is severely damaged with heavy creasing, tears, staining, or material loss. Card is barely intact.
Typical examples
- Cards that have been severely damaged
- Cards with tears or missing pieces
- Cards barely holding together
Grades 1–10 represent condition from Poor to Gem Mint. A final 10 with all four subgrades at 10 earns the Pristine label.
What to look for
The small things that count.
Understanding common defects helps you assess your cards before submission.
Poor Centering
Image is noticeably off-center with uneven borders
Impact: Can reduce grade by 1-3 pointsCorner Wear
Corners show rounding, fraying, or whitening
Impact: Major factor in grading, especially for high gradesEdge Chipping
Small chips or rough spots along card edges
Impact: Reduces grade, especially when extensiveSurface Scratches
Visible scratches or scuffs on card surface
Impact: Severity determines impact (1-4 points)Print Defects
Manufacturing issues like print lines or spots
Impact: Not collector's fault but still affects gradeCreases
Bends or folds in the card
Impact: Severe - typically grades 5 or belowStaining
Discoloration from moisture, dirt, or age
Impact: Moderate to severe depending on extentCare for your collection
Keep a good thing good.
A few simple habits help maintain your cards' condition.
Handle Cards Carefully
Always handle cards by the edges and use clean hands or gloves. Fingerprints and oils can damage the surface.
Store Properly
Keep cards in protective sleeves and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Don't Over-Clean
Attempting to clean cards can cause more damage. Leave cleaning to professionals if needed.
Document Condition
Take clear photos before submitting to compare with our professional assessment.
The next step
Let's take a closer look.
Our graders are ready to evaluate your collection with precision and care.