We use 2 scorches for grading our ungraded items
1 The Beckett Conditional grading outline guide
2 The PSA grading outline guide
Please note that we are not with Beckett or PSA and that we just use their grading scales as a guide
Gem Mint: 4 sharp corners, original gloss and sharp focus. Allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection if it does not impair the over all appeal of the card and must be free of stains. Centering may not exceed 60/40 % on front and 75/25 % on the back of the card.
Mint: 4 sharp corners, that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: slightly off white boarder, a minor printing imperfection, a very slight stain on the back. Centering may not exceed 65/35 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card.
Near Mint-Mint: Slight fraying at one or two corners, very slight wax stain on the back, small printing imperfection or slightly off white boarder. Centering may not exceed 70/30 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card.
Near Mint: Centering may not exceed 75/25 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card. There may be some fraying of some of the corners and the picture focus may be out of register. A small print blemish is acceptable and a slight wax stain on the back as well. Most of the original gloss is intact.
Excellent-Mint: Card may show some loss of original gloss and surface wear or a printing defect that does not take away from it eye appeal. Corners may show some fraying and the edges could have notching and the boarder may be off white as well. Centering may not exceed 80/20 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card and there may have a minor wax stain on the back.
EX: Centering may not exceed 85/15 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card. The corners will show minor rounding and surface wear and printing defects will be more apparent. The edges may have chipping as well there may be several light scratches on the front of the card.
VG-EX: Corners will show rounding and there will be noticeable surface wear. There will be scratches on the front and there may be one crease as well. Centering will not exceed 85/15 % on the front and 90/10 % on the back of the card plus there will be some gloss on the card.
VG: Rounding of the corners and scuffing/scratches on the font of the card is more noticeable. The boarder will be off white and there may be creases as well as most of the original gloss will be gone. Centering will not exceed 90/10 % on the front and back of the card as well there may be a stain/wax stain on the card as well.
GD: Most of the original gloss will be gone and there will be noticeable discoloration of the card. The corners will show noticeable rounding and fraying as well. There may be several creases, scratches and stain marks on the card as well centering may exceed 90/10 % on the front and back of the card.
Poor: Most if not all the original gloss will be gone and the card may be missing a piece or two. The corners will show noticeable rounding and fraying as well as notching a chipping. the card will also show noticeable creasing, stains and discoloration.