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Quick answer: Sports card condition is judged by four physical factors: corners, edges, surface, and centering. Near Mint means a clean card with only minor flaws; Excellent and Very Good cards show more visible wear.
Raw Card Condition Scale
GradeAbbr.What it meansBest for
MintMTSharp corners, clean edges, glossy surface, no visible wear. Raw Mint cards are uncommon and may still not grade PSA 10.Modern cards
Near MintNMLight handling only. Minor corner touch or tiny surface mark possible. Most collectible raw modern cards should be NM or better.Modern cards
ExcellentEXVisible but moderate wear. Corners may show softness, edges may have small nicks, and surface may show light wear.Vintage cards
Very GoodVGClear wear on corners and edges. May include surface issues, small creases, or printing defects. Often acceptable for vintage cards.Vintage cards
PoorPRHeavy damage, creases, stains, writing, paper loss, or major wear. Usually only collectible for rare vintage cards.Rare fillers
What to Inspect First
  1. Corners for whitening or rounding
  2. Edges for chips or rough cuts
  3. Surface for scratches, dents, print lines
  4. Centering from left/right and top/bottom borders
Raw vs Graded

Raw condition terms are seller estimates. PSA, BGS, and SGC grades are third-party opinions sealed in slabs. A raw Near Mint card may grade anywhere from PSA 7 to PSA 10 depending on small flaws.

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