Card Valuation
A reliable valuation combines three things: real market data, the precise condition of your card, and how rare the specific variant actually is.
Where our numbers come from
We rely on aggregated sale prices from TCGPlayer (US market) and Cardmarket (European market), cross-checked against recent observed sales. These platforms publish real transaction data, not theoretical estimates.
What factors move a valuation
- Condition
- Centering, corners, surface and edges — the same criteria used by the major grading scales. Even a minor visible flaw can cut a rare card’s value by half or more.
- Rarity of the variant
- 1st Edition or Unlimited, holo or reverse holo, Japanese or English print: two copies of the same Pokémon can be worth very different amounts depending on the exact variant.
- Market demand at the time of valuation
- Vintage card prices move with demand — a range is always dated and shifts with the market.
- Grading potential
- A near-perfect card can be worth significantly more once graded. Our report states whether that potential justifies the cost of a grading submission.
- History of comparable sales
- We cross-reference several recent sales for the same variant and condition, rather than relying on a single isolated listing.
See also our grading guide to understand how centering, corners, surface and edges are scored by PSA, CGC and BGS.
When to request a valuation
- Before selling a card or a collection, to set a reasoned price instead of a rough guess.
- Before insuring your collection, to document its value for your insurer.
- Before deciding whether to grade a card, to check the potential upside justifies the cost and wait.
- As part of an inheritance or a collection split, for a fair division based on verifiable numbers.
Why not just use a price found online?
A price listed on a marketplace usually reflects average condition, not yours. Our valuation starts from your actual photos to place your card precisely within the market range — see our article How Much Is a Base Set Card Worth Today? for a detailed example of this logic.
What you receive
A reasoned value range (low / likely / high), the price sources used, and the factors that explain where your card sits within that range.