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An Overview of Investing in Sports Cards

Investors have turned to stocks, bonds, and real estate for generations to grow their wealth. However, an alternative form of investment has gained traction—sports cards. Once seen as childhood collectibles traded on playgrounds and stored in shoeboxes, investors and collectors now sell them at auction houses and others display them like fine art.

Sports cards are typically small, rectangular pieces of thick paperboard featuring a professional athlete's image, stats, and team branding. They exist in nearly every major sport—baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. What sets them apart is their potential to appreciate in value over time.

Vintage cards, usually defined as those produced before the 1990s, have become especially prized for their historical significance and scarcity. Cards featuring legends like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Michael Jordan, or Joe Montana often command high prices due to their limited availability and the players’ enduring fame.

The market itself has grown tremendously. Kings Research, a global research firm, valued the sports card trading industry at $9.69 billion in 2022 and projected it could more than double to $20.48 billion by 2030. The potential for massive returns has driven part of the rise. One of the most famous examples is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which was once worth $50,000 but sold for a staggering $12.6 million in 2022—setting a new record for the most expensive sports card ever sold.

Investors and collectors today aren’t just buying cards of established legends. Many invest in rookie cards of newly signed athletes—players whose breakout performances could turn them into future icons. If a young athlete rises to stardom, the value of their card can increase dramatically in just a few years. Investors see this as an opportunity to “get in early” on talent before the broader market catches on.

There’s also the appeal of passive income. Some collectors lease their rarest cards to museums, memorabilia exhibits, or corporate sponsors, who pay millions to display them at events or showrooms. This turns the card into a money-making asset without needing to sell it—a desirable option for investors who want to keep their collection intact.

That said, not every sports card holds or gains value. Several key factors influence a card’s worth. First, player popularity is a major driver. Cards featuring household names like Tom Brady, LeBron James, or Shohei Ohtani tend to remain in high demand. However, lesser-known players can also see a sharp rise in value if they suddenly capture the public’s attention with standout performances.

Second, rarity plays a big role. Limited-edition cards, rookie-year issues, and short-printed series have a higher likelihood of appreciating. The fewer copies that exist, the more investors are willing to pay. For example, due to scarcity, a unique Patrick Mahomes card fetched $4.1 million in 2021. Finally, the condition is critical. Professional grading services like PSA or Beckett assign scores from 1 to 10 based on corners, centering, and surface quality. Even minor flaws—like print defects—can slash a card’s value, so investors often go to great lengths to store and protect their investments.

Of course, investing in sports cards is not risk-free. No matter how hyped, modern cards can become virtually worthless if a player’s performance slumps, injuries cut their careers short, or market demand shifts. New cards can also flood the market, diluting value and making it harder to profit. Like any speculative investment, it’s important to research, diversify, and manage expectations.

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Emerging Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and CJ Stroud Drive Card Sales

The 2024 football season was dynamic for card prospecting, which involves buying cards of emerging talents with the potential to break out as stars. At the top of the heap were quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels. The latter earned the collegiate Heisman Trophy with LSU in 2023 and was the second overall pick of the 2024 draft after Caleb Williams.

Daniels started strong with the Washington Commanders, seamlessly executing coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive strategy and leading the team to 12 victories. Highlights of his rookie season included a game-winning Hail Mary pass downfield in week eight and an upset win over the Detroit Lions in blizzard conditions in the playoffs. Among Daniels’ noteworthy stats were a 25-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 69 percent pass completion rating.

Completing 3,568 passing yards, Daniels also excelled in finding gaps in the defense and notched 891 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, a new rookie NFL record. He was only the third rookie quarterback (along with Ben Roethlisberger and Dak Prescott) to achieve 12 victories or more since 1935. His 30+ total touchdowns put him in the rarified company of four other rookie standouts: Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix. His stellar performance earned Daniels the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Daniels’ on-field success translated into explosive football card sales, with his flagship Panini Prizm rookie base #347 selling for $130 in gem mint PSA 10 in an eBay auction in March 2025. The short-printed Silver Prizm Rookie RC #347 in gem mint PSA 10 sells for significantly more, around $1,300. Rare parallels of the Prizm rookie can attain thousands of dollars. For example, a Gold Choice parallel /10 graded PSA 9 attained $9,900, and a super short-print Prizm Rookie Manga insert sells for nearly the same in PSA 10. One unique issue, a Jayden Daniels/Terry McLaurin Rookie Color Blast insert in PSA 10 brought $6,600 at auction.

In rookie patch autograph (RPA) cards, a highly collected category, Jayden Daniels’ Topps Chrome RPA Gold is the flagship issue. In raw and ungraded condition, this card, numbered up to 50, consistently sells for $2,500 in auctions.

CJ Stroud, an emerging quarterback with the Houston Texans, led his team to a 10-7 record in 2024, his second year in the league. His high-IQ play and unflappability under pressure earned his team No. 1 ranking in the AFC South and a wildcard playoff spot. The team capitalized on this with a win against the Chargers. Like Jayden Daniels and the Commanders, the Texans made it two games into the playoffs, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card before falling to two-time defending Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Among Stroud’s most collected rookie issues is the 2023 Prizm #339, which has more than 50 parallels, including unnumbered silvers and serial-numbered issues, such as the Gold Prizms /10 and Black Finite 1/1. As registered on eBay in January 2025, a gem-mint PSA 10 base Stroud rookie sells in the $40 to $50 range. The silver parallel, in the same grade, brings in around $650. A PSA 10 Gold Sparkle /24 brought $6,855, while the Black Finite sold for $53,680 in a June 2024 auction.

Another key Stroud issue is the super short print Absolute Kaboom! The insert combines a flash refractive background with a manga-like player image and comes in horizontal and vertical orientations. A 2023 vertical rookie Kaboom! in PSA 10 condition sold for $9,100, while the horizontal Kaboom! Sold for $3,800. The numbered Gold /10 and Green 1/1 Kabooms can go much higher, with a vertical Green selling for $72,000 in auction in September 2024.

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The Iconic 1952 Topps Baseball Cards Set with Mickey Mantle

The history of Topps and modern baseball card collecting begins with the 1952 set and the iconic Mickey Mantle rookie issue. This set technically was not Topps' first since the company had premiered several baseball-only releases in 1951, such as Connie Mack's All-Stars and Blue and Red Backs.

At that time, the company Bowman had a dominant place in the card market, having premiered its initial baseball card set in 1948 and signed exclusive contracts with many active stars. Topps wanted to enter this arena and boost bubblegum sales by packaging its core product with trading cards.

The strategy by Topps in 1952 was to outdo its competitor with a larger set of 404 cards (as opposed to Bowman's 252) and a larger card size that was marketed as "GIANT SIZE" on the front of packs. The cards were color-tinted from black and white using a then leading-edge Flexichrome process. The backs included stats from the players' entire careers rather than just the previous season, which made weighing the merits of individual athletes easier. Another innovation was a full-color team logo on the face of each card.

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is not the New York Yankees slugger's first card, with that distinction belonging to the 1951 Bowman, but it is his most iconic and valuable. Preparing for its full-fledged baseball launch, Topps started signing players as early as 1950. Sy Berger joined the company as a summer intern in 1951 and later signed emerging stars such as Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to exclusive contracts. Until 1956, when Topps purchased Bowman, both companies offered an incomplete roster of major league players.

The year 1952 was a breakthrough season for the young Mantle, who had a key role in enabling the Bronx Bombers to secure a fourth consecutive World Series pennant. Significantly, his home run late in Game 6 was the first of the 18 World Series home runs in his career. Unfortunately, his card did not initially generate much demand since core buyers were kids, not collectors.

This was not Mantle's fault. When Topps' initial 1952 series proved an immediate success, Sy Berger went to one of Topps' founding brothers, J.E. Shorin, and proposed a second series. This would include the recently signed Mantle as well as Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson. Shorin gave the go-ahead for a high series (with numbering continuing where the low series ended), provided they could get the issue out before the season was over. However, with a limited sales window and an already saturated market, this product was unpopular, and most cases were returned.

The unsold cases remained warehoused for nearly a decade until Berger dusted them off and attempted to sell them at bargain prices at carnivals. This strategy failed to deplete inventory significantly.

Berger convinced a friend who operated a garbage scow to load three truckloads of the cards, around 500 cases, onto his barge. A tugboat took the vessel to the Atlantic, where the cards were unceremoniously dumped. This created rarity in a card that has come to be considered one of the "holy grails" of baseball card collecting. In mint condition, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 has attained prices of several million dollars. In August 2022, an SGC 9.5 gem mint example commanded a $12.6 million price at auction.

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Why Pre-1970 Sports Cards Hold Exceptional Value

Pre-1970 sports cards are among the most sought-after collectibles, attracting both passionate collectors and serious investors. Their value is driven by scarcity, historical significance, and investment potential. As interest in vintage sports memorabilia grows, these cards continue to command impressive prices, with record-breaking sales in recent years. Their appeal extends beyond traditional sports fans, drawing art collectors, historians, and financial investors looking for unique tangible assets with lasting value.

A major factor behind their high value is scarcity. Unlike today’s mass-produced cards, early releases were printed in limited quantities, often as promotional items. Many were damaged, lost, or discarded, making well-preserved examples rare. The legendary T206 Honus Wagner card, printed between 1909 and 1911, is a prime example. With fewer than 50 known copies, it remains one of the most expensive sports cards ever sold, reaching $7.25 million in 2022. Even lesser-known players’ vintage cards can fetch significant sums if they are in excellent condition and hard to find. This scarcity continues to drive intense bidding wars among collectors eager to own a piece of sports history.

Historical significance also plays a key role in a card’s worth. Collectibles featuring legendary athletes or connected to defining moments in sports history hold exceptional value. Cards of Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Mickey Mantle are prized not just for their monetary worth but also for their players’ cultural impact. A pristine 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card dazzled collectors in 2024, with high-grade versions expected to sell for between $1.5 million and $3 million. Cards tied to record-breaking performances or championship seasons maintain lasting appeal, offering a tangible link to sports history. Additionally, cards featuring legendary athletes associated with defining moments in sports history remain highly desirable, further driving their market value.

Condition is another crucial factor in determining market value. Well-preserved cards, especially those with minimal wear, often command significantly higher prices. A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in pristine condition has sold for millions, while those with visible signs of aging fetch considerably less. Because early collectors rarely stored cards with future value in mind, finding well-maintained specimens is difficult. Proper storage, including protective casings and stable environments, helps preserve their quality and desirability.

The rise of sports cards as an alternative investment has further strengthened their appeal. Once just a collector’s passion, vintage cards have become a legitimate asset class, attracting investors seeking portfolio diversification. The global sports trading card market, valued at $44 billion, is projected to reach approximately $100 billion by 2027. Some financial analysts note that sports memorabilia, particularly pre-1970 cards, can outperform traditional stocks and bonds in uncertain economic times. Record-breaking sales, like the $24.1 million Babe Ruth jersey, highlight the growing value of historic sports memorabilia. Meanwhile, even modern cards, such as a Lamine Yamal card that recently sold for a large sum, demonstrate that rare collectibles continue to gain traction in the global market.

The lasting value of pre-1970 sports cards is rooted in their rarity, historical significance, condition, and investment appeal. As the market for collectible memorabilia expands, these cards remain among the most prized assets, securing their place in both sports history and high-value investments. Their timeless appeal ensures that collectors and investors alike will continue to seek them for generations to come.

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Topps Now Produces Unique 1-1 Basketball Card for Paris Olympics

Following the US men’s basketball team’s triumphant gold medal victory in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Topps announced production of a unique historic memento from the game. The card company produced a single 1-1 Topps Now issue, encased and sealed. It features Olympics participants and future Hall of Famers Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.

This unique 1-1 card, signed by all three, would not have been possible until recently, as professional NBA card producer Panini no longer has the rights to LeBron James’ autograph. Previously he was under contract with Upper Deck. While the three players will have the chance to play together in the 2025 All Star game, this may have been the last chance fans had to see the three share a court together in meaningful minutes. Topps Now is a brand name used exclusively for producing in-the-moment encased cards specific to milestones in players’ careers.

With card collectors and dealers delivering bounties of $100,000 and more for this unique piece of history, the triple signed card was randomly distributed to one lucky collector who purchased a Topps Now base card from the Olympics gold medal game.

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The Sports Memorabilia Industry Expected to Explode

In 1997, the ball boy who took Michael Jordan’s sweaty sneakers after the fifth game of the NBA finals or the infamous influenza game probably never imagined they would increase in value. Then, 16 years later, they sold for nearly $105,000, illustrating the proliferation of the sports memorabilia business.

Any object connected to an athlete, sport, or event counts as sports memorabilia. Several factors influence the memorabilia’s value, such as authenticated signatures, if the athlete has passed away, the athlete's legendary status, and the number of autographed items.

Collecting sports memorabilia has evolved from fans gathering and storing as many items connected to their favorite athletes as possible. It has become a viable business for some, including valuations, appraisers, rating agencies, specialized insurance, authenticators, elite security systems, and lease vaults. Hype rounds out the industry, which has raised asking prices for items, including Anthony Giordano’s son, who purchased a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card for $50,000 in 1991. The same card sold for $12.6 million in 2022.

In July 2023, the National Sports Collectors Convention accommodated roughly 100,000, twice the number of people who attended in 2022, with an estimated 50,000. Collecting has become serious, with grading companies hiring high-resolution photos to authenticate game-used merchandise and collectors investing in waterless fire suppression systems to extinguish flames in rooms where they store their memorabilia for safety measures.

Moreover, the industry has seen the rise of two types of collectors: the first group specializes in autographed tickets and cards, and the second in clothing and equipment. A third group collects strange stuff, like Mickey Mantles' hairlocks.

From trading and collecting, the traditional to the unusual, the sports memorabilia industry may grow from $26.1 billion in 2021 to $227 billion in 2032.

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Different Types of Card Collectors

Depending on the criteria, card collectors fall into many different categories, both broad and specific. An individual sports team franchise may focus exclusively on collectors who seek cards from its team. However, collectors might focus on specific players or sets of cards from brands, such as Triple SSS Sports Cards. Some collectors, driven by the desire to showcase these cards, “chase the rainbow” by acquiring many different colored cards or parallel-designed cards of the same player.

Industry insiders commonly categorize card collectors according to experience (newcomers vs. veterans) and purpose (investment vs. amusement). Significant differences exist between older hobbyists who have been collecting cards since childhood, those who return to their childhood hobby later in life, and those collecting for the first time. Purpose can also lead to many differences among collectors. Serious investors, for example, tend to engage in “card flipping,” purchasing cards as short-term investments and trading them.

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How Sports Rookie Trading Cards Accrue Value

Sports trading cards earn value for various reasons, such as age, featured player, or number of cards in circulation. How rookies perform in their first year also impacts the value of their rookie cards.

Rookie cards accrue value because they help introduce the player to a professional league. In addition, trading card companies issue limited numbers per player. Rookies who continue their professional careers will accumulate more cards every year. However, the rookie card remains prized due to its age and limited prints. Furthermore, some collectors hope the player will rise in prominence, increasing prices. Few athletes become professionals and even fewer have multi-year careers.

Moreover, trading card companies tie rookie cards to the player's debut and other events, making them more rare and valuable. Examples of sports rookie cards that increased in value include Mickey Mantle, which sold for $3.92 million, and Goudey Ruth Quartet, which carries a value of $1.8 million.

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Card Collectors Show Interest in NBA Legend Bill Walton Card Issues

On May 27, 2024, NBA legend Bill Walton passed away from cancer. His death and legendary career spurred interest in his sports cards.

In the early 1970s, Walton started his playing career. The nearly seven-foot center spurred his college team to a pair of NCAA championships before the Portland Trail Blazers drafted him. In 1977-78, Walton earned the NBA MVP award, and in 1985-86, he won the sixth man of the year award with the Boston Celtics. He also earned a pair of championship rings. However, chronic foot injuries cut his career short. Nonetheless, Walton maintained a presence in the NBA, becoming a broadcaster. In 1993, the NBA inducted him into its Hall of Fame.

Walton’s 1974 Topps rookie card, an extremely rare in high grade, with mint PSA 10 copies, commands $3,000. In a near-mint PSA 8, the same card can garner $800. Lower-grade raw copies of the rookie card cost $135. Noteworthy post-career Walton issues include a 2007 Upper Deck Signature Shots Bill Russell - Bill Walton dual Celtics autograph card that sold for $800 in late May. Another high dollar sale in April saw a 1986 Star Bill Walton in a BGS 9 holder, which received $749.

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An Overview of the Sports Card Grading Scale

Individuals interested in collecting professional sports cards should learn how cards are graded. Cards receive ratings in the form of numerical scores, ranging from one to 10, although there are a few exceptions. Ratings are based on the quality of four categories: centering, corners, edges, and surface. The higher that a card scores, the better quality collectors can expect.

If a card is deemed to be authentic, but is in very poor condition, it receives a number with an A score, which indicates the card’s authenticity. Cards may also be scored across a number of characteristics that indicate their overall quality.

Most cards on the numerical scale are in decent condition, though true collectors pursue the highest quality cards. A card with a one rating shows obvious signs of usage and may be folded or scuffed, but may also be described as being in “fair” condition. Cards that score between a two and a five range from good to excellent quality but still show minor imperfections.

Cards that score a six or higher are categorized as in near-mint condition or better. A card must score at least a nine to qualify as mint condition, which is a card that resembles a card from a freshly opened pack. A card that scores a 10 is considered a “gem mint” card, meaning it has perfect scores in all four categories.

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Most Valuable Football Cards

First released in 1935 by the National Circle Company, football cards gained popularity after World War II. During the 1990s, the NFL produced memorable players, such as Peyton Manning, and football cards started to have significant value, such as the Patrick Mahomes 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum card.

The Patrick Mahomes 2017 Panini National Treasures Platinum is the most expensive football card. It sold for $4.3 million in 2021, breaking the record of the previous most valuable card, worth $1 million.

Next, the Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144 holds significant value thanks to his stellar career and seven Super Bowl wins. In 2021, during Leland's auction, the card attained a hammer price of $3,107,372. This card features Brady, a former quarterback, as he tries to make a pass.

Lastly, the 1958 Topps #62 Jim Brown is also one of the most valuable football cards. It depicts a 22-year-old Jimmy Brown as he runs across the field. Jim Brown’s rookie card held a value of $ 336,000 by the 2017 Heritage Options.

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Reasons to Buy Baseball Cards

As collectibles, baseball cards bring the allure of sentiment and value. Baseball cards have woven themselves into the fabric of American culture, and several reasons to buy them exist.

Baseball cards evoke cherished memories of youth, reminiscent of the joyous exchanges and trades among friends. They represent a tangible link to the cultural heritage ingrained within the fabric of American society.

In addition, baseball cards have become investment opportunities. Certain cards accrue substantial value over time, attracting seasoned collectors and newcomers alike to partake in this hobby.

Beyond their monetary worth, baseball cards often feature captivating artwork and design. From vibrant illustrations to small details, these cards showcase the creativity and artistry of their creators. Therefore, collectors can admire the featured players and craftsmanship that brings them to life. Some cards have attained iconic status for their aesthetic appeal, further augmenting their attraction to enthusiasts.

Every baseball card narrates a unique story, capturing a moment in a player's career and the era in which they excelled. Thus, collecting becomes a form of historical preservation, chronicling the evolution of the sport across generations.

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Investment Grade Rookie Cards of NBA Nuggets Star Nikola Jokic

The undisputed leader of the 2023 NBA Championship Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, has a tall stature and an infallible ability to power over opponents and reach the rim. The big man from Serbia also has several investment-grade rookies in demand as Denver makes yet another attempt at the championship ring.

For those looking to buy in inexpensively, Jokic’s iconic 2015-16 Donruss Rated Rookie typically sells ungraded in the $50 to $100 range and fetches around $450 to $500 in a gem-mint PSA 10 grade. The flagship chrome stock Prizm rookie transacts for around $120 raw and ungraded and sells for $700 to $800 in PSA 10.

For those wanting game jersey materials in their rookie card, one of the most iconic choices is the 2015-16 National Treasures NBA Material card. Serial numbered to just /99, the card sells raw in the $600 range and for $2,000+ in gem mint condition. The highly collectible rookie patch auto (RPA) adds an autograph to the jersey card, and then the 2015-16 Immaculate Collection RPA /99 is a perennially popular choice. In early 2024, a raw and ungraded copy with a three-color patch sold for $5,049 on eBay, with 48 bids for the sought-after issue.

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Examples of Valuable Super Bowl Memorabilia

The Super Bowl, the championship game for teams in the National Football League (NFL), is the most-watched television event in the United States. During a standard game of professional football, NFL officials use 54 official Wilson footballs. However, 120 game balls are used during the Super Bowl, primarily because these balls carry significant value following the game.

In 2024, for example, a pair of footballs used by all-time quarterback great Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLIX have been selected for auction and are expected to sell for at least $1 million apiece. Both balls were thrown by Brady for touchdowns as part of the New England Patriots’ nail-biting, come from behind 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The first ball was caught to tie the record for most Super Bowl touchdown passes (held by Joe Montana), while the second ball broke the record. The sale is being managed by the Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction house.

Game balls are not the only examples of valuable Super Bowl memorabilia. Several player rings have been sold at auction, often for more than $200,000. Two-time Super Bowl winner Lawrence Taylor sold his Super Bowl XXV ring for $230,000, while William Perry’s 1985 ring from his championship with the 1985 Bears initially sold for just $8,500. Perry later reclaimed the ring, which ultimately sold for $203,000 via Heritage Auction.

Sports collectors may also be interested in Super Bowl coins, which are used to determine possession before the start of the game. The NFL auctioned a coin from Super Bowl 58 in 2024 as part of the NFL’s support for the Luna Strong Maui relief efforts. The coin ended up being sold for more than $20,000.

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The Super Bowl and Its Impact on Football Cards

Being a part of the winning Super Bowl team marks the pinnacle of value enhancement for a player’s cards during the NFL season. It increases their card value to a greater extent than winning an MVP award, which typically results in a gradual price increase over time.

Although the price of a player’s card can double in value between the offseason and playoffs, the Super Bowl can immediately influence a card’s value. The value of the winning quarterback’s card can surge by the game’s completion.

Several factors contribute to sought-after sports cards, including the quality and popularity of the player, rarity, brand, popularity of inserts or parallels, autographs, authentic game-worn and high-quality patches, and eye appeal.

Cards featuring all-time great players or those with unique and visually appealing features tend to hold long-term value. At the same time, factors like rarity and autographs add to their desirability among collectors. Considering these factors helps collectors decide which cards to invest in.

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Factors that Determine the Cost of Sports Cards Grading

Most card collectors recognize three prominent companies, the Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), and Sports Guarantor Corporation (SGC), for trusted, recognized, and verifiable autograph, memorabilia and card grading services. Card grading refers to the professional, third-party evaluation process to determine the authenticity and overall condition of the card and establish the "grade." The authenticating company examines various characteristics of the card to determine authenticity and grade. For this, they charge a fee based on several factors.

The declared value is one factor that determines the cost of grading the sports card. This refers to the estimated or appraised value of the card after the grading service provider has assigned a grade. Regardless of the card collector's experience, the estimated value should be realistic and educated based on thorough research. Beckett will charge based upon the turnaround time whereas PSA will charge an additional fee.

The higher the declared value of the card, the higher the authentication and grading fees. If the final card value after grading exceeds the declared value, the grading company may request higher fees for the card collector.

The second determinant of the grading fee is the number of cards that require grading. Grading in bulk tends to be cheaper than single remittances. For example, PSA offers a bulk rate that varies depending on the number of cards. It also requires membership in PSA's Collectors Club. This is in comparison to a minimum of $25 per card for non-bulk grading.

The choice of grading service provider also affects the cost. Grading by reputable companies and industry leaders like PSA and Beckett costs more, as their certifications are widely recognized and accepted as quality marks. Thus, the cards fetch higher prices on the secondary markets than less-known grading companies. BGS also offers diverse services, such as sub-grading. Beckett is one of those providers and it refers to individual numbers, or reports, for the card's centering, corners, edges, and surface for a more comprehensive insight into the card's condition.

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A Brief Overview of Non Sports Trading Cards

The emergence of non-sports trading cards traces back to the late 19th century. Individuals could find them in packs of bubble gum or cigarettes, featuring subjects like exotic animals, famous landmarks, and entertainment personalities. Despite the discontinuation of cigarette card issuances, non-sports cards gained immense popularity, notably flourishing from the 1950s until nearly 1990, in packages with a piece of bubble gum. However, pairing cards with gum eventually faded away and no longer prevalent.

During the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the American-based Topps Company introduced a groundbreaking concept with Wacky Packages sticker cards, offering humorous product label parodies. Over the last fifty years, media-centric cards focusing on historical events, TV series, and films have dominated the genre. Some of the most sought-after non-sports trading cards revolve around franchises like Disney, Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Marvel, and DC Comics, including popular subsets like Superman and Batman.

In more recent times, collectible card games have emerged, becoming an integral part of the non-sports trading cards realm. Sets like Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are examples of this phenomenon, although some categorize them separately due to their gameplay aspect. Despite this, platforms like eBay often group them within the broader non-sports category.