BGS Grading Explained: Your Guide to Card Values
Trading cards, be it sports or cartoon characters, have turned out to be more than just a simple collection of cards. Because such products are getting expensive there is a need to look at the authenticity of the products and their quality. Yet another stable card grading service is Beckett Grading Services which is commonly called among card collectors. Regardless of whether you are a card collector with several years of experience or a novice in this area, it is pertinent to understand which features of BGS grading will affect the value and aesthetics of your collection.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you can think of about BGS grading; from the actual grading scale to submitting your cards, and how BGS grading can add value to your card collection.
What is BGS Grading?
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is a division of Beckett Media, a company with a long-standing reputation in the collectibles industry. BGS was heavily involved in arts es, especially in sports cards, trading cards, and collectibles and their certification and evaluation. After its creation, BGS was quickly recognized by both clients and other grading services as one of the most honest and reliable grading services currently available. Its reputation is built on its consistent grading scale and clear rules governing the process.
The graders must examine each card and rate the condition of the card depending on the features such as centering, corners, edges, and surface. This is the end grade which is assigned to a card and the grade assigned to a card also can in a way affect the value of the card in the market.
The BGS Grading Scale
GraThe grading all ranges from 1 to 10 with gradations of half marks, Unlike other grading services. With a higher grade, it simply implies that it is a card in a much better condition as compared to the other cards.
- 10: Perfect Pristine (Black Label) – A card with four sub-grades of 10.
- 9.5: Gem Mint
- 9: Mint
- 8.5: Excellent-Mint
- 8: Excellent
- 7.5: Very Good-Excellent
- 7: Very Good
- 6.5: Good-Very Good
- 6: Good
- 5.5: Fair-Good
- 5: Fair
- 4.5: Poor-Fair
- 4: Poor
- 3.5: Altered
- 3: Authentic
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The BGS Grading Process
The grading process is very standardized and detailed at BGS to make sure that all the cards go through proper and similar grading. The process involves several key steps:
1. Submission
One of the most important steps in the grading process of BGS is the submission of the card to the collector. CCardholderssend their cards to BGS for grading either by post or at card show events where the company has stations. Collectors may discover that potential submitters have submission forms and guidelines from BGS to help the collectors themselves prepare their cards for grading.
2. Authentication
Once the card is in the possession of BGS, an authentication process follows. This step is very important because it would sometimes take some time to find out if the card is an original one or an imitated one. The BGS specialists then spend some time analyzing the authenticity of the card by engaging in a visual examination of the card for signs of a fud and/or the presence of enhanced devices.
3. Grading
Once a card is authenticated it advances to the next stage of grading. The card is examined under magnification to assess its condition based on four sub-grades:
- Centering: Alignment can be defined as the position of the figure or the object of interest, concerning the border of the card. If the card is as centered as much as possible then the border on one side of the card has to be equal to the border on the other side of the card. Off-center cards will receive lower sub-grades since the center is part of the attractiveness of a card.
- Corners: The condition of the card’s corners is another important factor in grading. The corners should be sharp and clean with no blunting at all; any rounded or damaged corners should subgrade. Using a magnifying lens, BGS graders observe the corners very carefully to check for any signs of abrasion or other forms of damage.
- Edges: The corners should be sharp and clean with no sign of blunting at all; any rounded or damaged corners give the sub-grade a low rating. Placing the magnifying lens, BGS graders ensure that they scrutinize corners in took for any signs of abrasion or any form of damage.
- Surface: The outside of the card stock is also inspected to see if there are scratches, markings, or stains that it may have acquired. A good clean surface is necessary and the surface should not contain major or minor defects to get a good result. The BGS graders use different kinds of lighting.
4. Encapsulation
Encapsulation is the process in which the card is sealed in a hard case that cannot be opened without breaking as a way of confirming that it has been graded. The case also preserves the card and its state to ensure the card does not incur further damage. The overall grade is written on a label and accompanied by the centering grade, corner grade, edge grade, and face grade at the interior of the case. This label also includes information about the card such as player, team, and year.
BGS Label
The use of the BGS label also has the benefit of giving more information to the collector about the card itself, such as the grade of the card and other features. The label includes the following elements:
1. Grade
The most obvious aspect of the BGS label is the numeric grade from around the world. This grade consolidates four sub-grading categories which include centering, corners, edges, and the surface, which provide an overall outlook about the condition of the given card.
2. Sub-grades
Other BGS include subgrade for centering, corner, edge a and surface. These sub-grades are labeled so that the collector can also see how the card faired in each of the sub-sub-grades is well received by collectors who may require a detailed explanation about the condition of their card in the set.
3. Population Report
The BGS label also includes information about the postulation report of the card. The number of cards of the same type as the one being graded but with a similar or better grade is also presented in this report. This information is helpful for collectors to find out how rare their graded card is in other graded cards.
4. Card Information
The label contains other information about the card inclusive of the name of the player, belonging team, and year any other details that may be deemed necessary. This is useful in allowing a collector to locate the card and some aspects of the card most comfortably.
5. Black Label
A BGS Black Label 10 is considered the pinnacle of card grading. This label is assigned to cards with sub-grades of 10 in all subcategories including centering, corners, edges, and surface. A Black Label 10 means that the card is minimum, something collectors value most and hastened sell at a higher price in the market.
The Importance of BGS Grading
Authentication and Trust
The first advantage of BGS grading is the assurance of the authenticity of the card. When there are fake cards and reprints in the market, getting a card authenticated by BGS relieves the buyer and the seller.
Condition Assessment
As for BGS, it provides the market value of the card based on its condition and quality according to most collectors. They can be confident that when they buy, Sapporo, or sell the card, they will get an honest opinion of the value of the theatre cradles of its grade.
Value Enhancement
Graded cards often command higher prices in the market. A BGS-graded card, especially those with high grades, can significantly increase in value compared to its ungraded counterpart. This value enhancement is particularly evident in cards graded 9.5 or higher.
Marketability
In general, cards with BGS grading and encapsulation are more attractive to buyers and there are more potential buyers in the market. This process not only preserves the card but also significantly enhances its value, making it a desirable item for collectors.
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Closing Words
The use of BGS grading is quite beneficial in the marketplace, as it gives collectors the necessary guarantees of the piece’s authenticity, its condition, and the possibility of creating additional added. The careful process of grading it goes through, the detailed BGS label and the company’s reputation for being precise and reliable make BGS a popular choice among collectors across the globe.
