Long-Term Comic Book Storage: An Archival Guide
Antique books and first editions Paper-based collectables degrade over time through three principal mechanisms: chemical breakdown of the paper itself, mechanical damage from handling and storage, and biological damage from mould, insects, …
How to Spot a Fake Morgan Silver Dollar
Silver dollar coin authentication Morgan silver dollars, struck by the United States Mint between 1878 and 1921, are among the most collected American coins.
How to Grade Comic Books: A Practical Guide for New Collectors
Antique books and first editions Comic book grading is the process of assessing a book’s physical condition against a standardised scale and either describing it in those terms for a sale or sending it to a third-party grader for encapsulat…
Pokémon Card Condition Guide: From Played to Gem Mint
Pokemon trading cards Condition is the single biggest factor in the value of a Pokémon card after rarity and identity. Two copies of the same card can differ in price by a factor of fifty between worn and pristine condition.
Investing in Pokémon Cards: A Realistic Look at Returns and Risks
Pokemon trading cards Pokémon cards have repeatedly made financial-press headlines over the past decade as gem-mint vintage cards crossed six- and seven-figure auction prices.
Pokémon Base Set Buyer’s Guide: First Edition, Shadowless and Unlimited
Antique books and first editions The original English-language Pokémon Base Set, published in January 1999 by Wizards of the Coast, is the foundational release of the entire Pokémon trading card hobby in the West.
How to Store Pokémon Cards Properly for Long-Term Preservation
Pokemon trading cards Pokémon cards are made of layered paper stock with a thin foil or holographic layer fused to the front. They are vulnerable to humidity, light, heat, sharp temperature swings, dust, and physical handling.
How to Grade Pokémon Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide for Collectors
Pokemon trading cards Grading is the process of having a third-party authenticator examine a Pokémon card, assess its condition against a published scale, and seal it inside a tamper-evident plastic case along with a label stating the grade…
Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols: Common, Rare, Holo, and Beyond
Pokemon trading cards The black mark next to a Pokémon card’s collector number is the rarity symbol.
Pokémon TCG Set Symbols Explained: Reading the Tiny Logo
Pokemon trading cards Every modern Pokémon trading card carries a small symbol in the lower-right corner of its illustration that identifies which set it belongs to.