Trading card grading has become one of the biggest drivers of value in the hobby, but grading fees, shipping risks, and turnaround times mean not every card deserves to be submitted. While some cards multiply in value when graded, others see little to no benefit—making it essential for beginners to understand what truly qualifies a card for professional grading.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 673 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for determining whether a trading card has real grading potential. Using simple visual techniques—no bending, no surface testing, and no risky handling—you’ll learn the same observational methods used by professional card appraisers and graders.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Evaluate centering, the number-one pre-grading factor
Inspect corners for whitening, rounding, folds, and micro-damage
Check edges for chipping, fraying, dents, and manufacturing inconsistencies
Identify surface defects such as scratches, dents, print lines, roller marks, and silvering
Recognize valuable categories including rookies, low-numbered inserts, vintage, and early Pokémon holos
Understand when rarity, demand, and pop reports justify grading
Distinguish factory defects from genuine damage
Evaluate foil, holographic, and textured cards safely
Identify when autographs require dual authentication and grading
Use a full non-destructive evaluation workflow before deciding to submit
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating card grading potential
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're sorting old collections, deciding which pulls to submit, or trying to avoid wasting grading fees, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to determine which cards are truly worth grading.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
Trading card grading has become one of the biggest drivers of value in the hobby, but grading fees, shipping risks, and turnaround times mean not every card deserves to be submitted. While some cards multiply in value when graded, others see little to no benefit—making it essential for beginners to understand what truly qualifies a card for professional grading.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 673 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for determining whether a trading card has real grading potential. Using simple visual techniques—no bending, no surface testing, and no risky handling—you’ll learn the same observational methods used by professional card appraisers and graders.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Evaluate centering, the number-one pre-grading factor
Inspect corners for whitening, rounding, folds, and micro-damage
Check edges for chipping, fraying, dents, and manufacturing inconsistencies
Identify surface defects such as scratches, dents, print lines, roller marks, and silvering
Recognize valuable categories including rookies, low-numbered inserts, vintage, and early Pokémon holos
Understand when rarity, demand, and pop reports justify grading
Distinguish factory defects from genuine damage
Evaluate foil, holographic, and textured cards safely
Identify when autographs require dual authentication and grading
Use a full non-destructive evaluation workflow before deciding to submit
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating card grading potential
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're sorting old collections, deciding which pulls to submit, or trying to avoid wasting grading fees, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to determine which cards are truly worth grading.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
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