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In order to keep our card prices so low, we have to be able to inventory thousands
of cards every day. To do this, we can't examine each card under a microscope.
Trying to categorize each card into Mint, Near Mint,
Excellent, Fine and Good would take too long and we'd be bound to make
mistakes. For most people, whether a card is Mint or Near Mint will make no
difference.
So, to make things easier we put cards into 1 of 3 different categories.
Grade A
- Mint to Near Mint cards. These cards will either be straight from the pack or
have very little wear. By wear we mean maybe a speck or two on the edge that
you might find from cards being put into protectors or boxes, but there will
not be any whitening from play.
Grade B
- Fine to Excellent cards. These cards will probably have been played lightly
or possibly played in deck protectors. Either way, some whitening might be
noticable on the edges of blackbordered cards or on the backs of the card. Some
"grunge" might be apparent on the edges of white-bordered cards. See our note
at the bottom for hints on removing card grunge.
Grade C
- Everything Else. These cards have probably seen extensive play and most
likely not in deck protectors. Grade C cards will either have obvious whitening
on a card or some type of distinguising mark such as a crease or bend. Grade C
cards are still tournament legal if used with deck protectors having opaque,
solid-colored backs. These cards can be a great bargain for someone looking to
get the cards for casual play or if on a tight budget.
Grunge Removal on White-Bordered Cards
Some Grade B and Grade C white-bordered cards may be infected with the
ever-so-common 'grunge' from people's greasy fingers. This happens during lots
of play when sweat and other oils from your hands stick to the card and cause
dirt to collect on the edges. Its not noticeable on black-bordered cards, but
it can cause your favorite Birds of Paradise to look like its been dragged
through the dirt.
Have no fear, 80% of card grunge can be removed leaving your card in much
better shape than when you started. Here's how:
Get a soft cloth like one you might use to dust a wood table, or an old
t-shirt.
With your hand, make a fist with your fore-finger sticking out and wrap the
cloth around it so the tip of your finger is inside the cloth.
Dampen the cloth on the tip of your finger with a small amount of Windex.
Holding the card firmly against a table so it doesnt slide, rub your finger
across one edge of the card. Don't press too hard or you'll rub the color off
the card. You should make many light strokes until the grunge starts to come
off.
Rotate the card and work on the next edge. Repeat this until the card is clean.
You'll need to redampen the cloth as it starts to dry out. If the cloth is too
wet you could damage the card from the moisture, and if its too dry you could
rub the color off the card. Try it with some commons until you get the hang of
it before you try it on your expensive cards.
Good Luck!
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