Inherited a sports card collection? Here's what it's worth.
Cards from roughly 1987–1994 — the 'junk wax era' — were printed in enormous quantities and are worth very little regardless of who is on them. Value concentrates sharply before 1980 and in modern rookies and inserts. Condition decides almost everything.
- Do not laminate, tape, trim or write on cards. Ever.Any of these makes a card unsellable at grade. Trimming in particular is treated as fraud by the grading services.
- Do not rubber-band stacks together.Rubber bands leave permanent indentations and, over years, chemically mark the surface. Use a plain box.
- Do not open sealed wax packs or boxes.Sealed packs from certain years are worth considerably more unopened than the cards inside are worth individually.
What actually decides the value
- ·Year and set — pre-1980 is where most real value sits
- ·Rookie cards of significant players, which carry a large premium over their later cards
- ·Corners, edges, centring and surface: the four things graders score
- ·Whether it is a base card or a short-printed insert, parallel or autograph
- ·Sealed and unopened original packaging
How to photograph it
- ·Full front of any card you think might matter, square to the camera
- ·The corners in close-up — that is where condition is won and lost
- ·Any sealed packs or boxes, photographed unopened
Five photographs · free · no account
Common questions
Is a sports card collection worth anything?+
Cards from roughly 1987–1994 — the 'junk wax era' — were printed in enormous quantities and are worth very little regardless of who is on them. Value concentrates sharply before 1980 and in modern rookies and inserts. Condition decides almost everything.
What should I not do with a sports card collection?+
Do not laminate, tape, trim or write on cards. Ever. Any of these makes a card unsellable at grade. Trimming in particular is treated as fraud by the grading services. Do not rubber-band stacks together. Rubber bands leave permanent indentations and, over years, chemically mark the surface. Use a plain box. Do not open sealed wax packs or boxes. Sealed packs from certain years are worth considerably more unopened than the cards inside are worth individually.
What makes sports cards valuable?+
Mostly these: Year and set — pre-1980 is where most real value sits; Rookie cards of significant players, which carry a large premium over their later cards; Corners, edges, centring and surface: the four things graders score; Whether it is a base card or a short-printed insert, parallel or autograph.
How do I find out what mine is worth?+
Photograph it and we'll examine it. Five photographs are free. A full report is $39, covers up to 200 photographs, and we never buy or sell anything — so we have no reason to tell you it's worth less than it is.