Centering

Measured properly "They should not be Averaged" or Manipulated

Creases - & - Wrinkles

A true crease shows on both sides & can be categorized as Faint, Light, Medium, Heavy, Tiny, Small etc, Broken & Unbroken

A "Surface Wrinkle" is not a true crease & shows on 1 side only, front or back

These can be inherent within the paper during manufacturing, before the images are printed

They can also be on the inside layer & noticeable on the surface

There are those who say some "Wrinkles" are caused by "Bending the Card"

If that's true than how do you cause a Wrinkle on 1 side without affecting the surface on the other side?

Try it & you will see - It's a debatable point

NM to Mint

Corners - All Pointed

Centering - 65/35 or better

Surface - No Surface Wear - May or may not have a minor printing imperfection - w/ Clean Back

All Card Scans Below are Shown Oversized

Corners - All pointed, may or may not have very slight fraying on 1 or 2 corners & if so they still come to a point

Centering - 70 / 30 or better, however if all other aspects of the card are NM M or

better than 75 / 25 would be acceptable otherwise it falls to a lower grade

Surface - With original Gloss - Absolutely no visible wear at normal viewing - No Crease or Wrinkle - Clean Back

NM - (Minus)

Very close to NM but better than EX NM, e.g. if Centering is 80 / 20 w/ NM or better corners & surface

EX NM Above

Corners - All pointed at normal viewing but may or may not have very slight wear at tips - No rounding

Centering - Minimum 80 / 20 or better otherwise graded lower regardless of how good other aspects of the card may be

Surface - Absolutely no visible wear at normal viewing - No Crease or Surface Wrinkle -

May have a minor print defect which does not detract from it's overall appeal - Clean Back

EX Above

Mid Point Grade

Corners - May or may not have very slight wear on all corners but still appear pointed at normal viewing -

When magnified 1 or 2 corners may have the beginnings of slight minor rounding

Centering - Minimum 85 / 15 or better otherwise graded lower regardless of how good other aspects of the card may be

Surface - May or may not have a tiny amount of visible wear - No Crease or Surface Wrinkle on the front regardless of

how good other aspects of the card may be - May have a Very Faint Surface Wrinkle on the reverse - Clean Back

EX - (Minus)

Very close to EX & yet better than VG EX however No Creases or Surface Wrinkles, a couple of examples would be;

If Centering is 90 / 10 with EX or better corners & surface or Corners have very minor rounding with no surface wear &

centering is 65 / 35 or better

VG EX (Example 1) - Above

Above has a Light Surface Wrinkle (not a crease) at the BL Corner on the Back Only o/w it Grades higher

Corners - May or may not have slight rounding on 1 or all corners & or may still be pointed

If more than 2 corners have slight rounding than VG EX will depend on centering & or surface

Centering - Any card with less than 85 / 15 is VG EX at best (provided it hasn't been miss cut) however it also could

be up to 50 / 50 depending on corners and / or surface - If it's miss cut (meaning factory cut) on any part of the

image or on an inner border than it's VG at best

Surface - May or may not have a small amount of visible wear - May or may not have 1 Small Faint to Light Unbroken

Crease provided it's not through the center or affects the player or 1 Surface Wrinkle on the Front only provided

it doesn't seriously affect the player or 1 or more Wrinkles on the reverse

VG EX (Example 2) - Above

Above has a Small Light Vertical Surface Wrinkle at the Bottom Border from the edge & extending thru the letter

"K", not noticeable in the scan & on the front only - You will notice the Corners & Centering are better than the

VG EX Grade placed on the card

VG Above

Centering Above - T/B is 15 / 85 which would be EX at best however there are 2 Hairline Surface Wrinkles running diagonally

from the Top Edge extending thru the forehead to the Right Edge, not noticeable in the scan & on the front only

Corners - May or may not have very slight or increased wear or noticeable rounding (but not extreme) on

1 or all corners & or may still be pointed depending on centering & or surface

Centering - Any card with less than 85 / 15 including a factory miss cut if not severe (a sliver),

however could be up to 50 / 50 depending on corners and / or surface

Surface - May or may not have a modest amount of visible wear but not extreme - May or may not

have 1 Crease or 1 or more Faint to Medium Surface Wrinkles on the Front which doesn't seriously

affect the player and / or 1 or more Wrinkles on the reverse

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