CONDITION,
CALLED STRAIGHT.

Where my cards come from

Every card I sell is opened here, from sealed booster packs and boxes. Nothing is bought in as loose singles, so I know exactly where each card has been.

Cards go into a penny sleeve the moment they are pulled, before they are graded, photographed or stored. None of them has ever been played or shuffled.

The grades I use

I use the standard TCG condition ladder. Where a card sits between two grades, I list it at the lower one.

Near Mint

Pack fresh or close to it. May carry minor factory imperfections that came out of the pack that way. No play wear, no creasing, no bends.

Lightly Played

Minor edge whitening or a small surface mark, visible on close inspection but not across the room. Still tournament legal in a sleeve.

Moderately Played

Noticeable whitening, scuffing or a light bend. Photographed clearly so you can judge it yourself before buying.

Played

Heavier wear, creasing or clear damage. I rarely list these, and when I do the fault is stated in the title.

Pack fresh does not mean flawless

Yu-Gi-Oh! cards can leave the factory with imperfections. Cutting, printing and packing all introduce them before a card has ever been touched, so a card can be genuinely pack fresh and still not be perfect.

I would rather tell you that than let you find out when the envelope arrives. Any noticeable flaw is photographed or clearly described.

Edge whitening

Pale specks along a border where the cut exposed the card’s inner layer. Common on dark-bordered cards and frequently present straight from the pack.

Print lines

Fine lines running across the face of a card, left by the printing process. Most visible on foils under angled light, and never caused by handling.

Surface marks

Small scuffs or indentations in the finish. I check under raking light, which shows far more than a flat photograph does.

Off-centre cuts

Uneven borders from where the sheet was cut. Cosmetic rather than damage, but it matters to collectors, so I mention it when it is pronounced.

How a card gets graded

01  Pulled and sleeved

Cards come out of sealed booster product and go into a penny sleeve before they are set down.

02  Checked under angled light

Front and back, corners and edges. Angled light is what reveals print lines and surface marks that a straight-on look misses.

03  Graded down, never up

Where a card sits between two grades it is listed at the lower one. I would rather you were pleasantly surprised.

04  Photographed, then listed

I photograph my own stock rather than using manufacturer renders. Higher-rarity cards are photographed individually where appropriate, so condition is visible before you buy.

Want a closer look?

Ask before you buy. If you want another photograph, or a close look at a particular corner, message me through eBay or use the contact form and I will send one.