Grading Scale

Pristine refers to a state of exceptional production quality.

A Pristine card is free of the slightest trace of manipulation and has no production defects observable to the naked eye. It can be considered as a virtually perfect card.

This grade is only awarded to cards that have received all four sub-grades 10.

Visual appeal : Splendid

The Gem Mint designates a state corresponding to a very good production quality*.

The following minor imperfections are tolerated, as long as they do not affect the visual appeal of the card:

• a discreet print line
• a discreet inking defect such as air bubbles, adot, a discreet squib
• a discreet cutting point in a corner
• a discreet silvering

Visual appeal : Remarkable

*This quality is systematically assessed in part against the recognised production standards for the card in question.

Mint refers to a state of good production quality.

Multiple and slight imperfections of origin are tolerated, such as

• some slight print lines / foil cut lines / factory scratches
• rare and small inking defects such as small printing spots, smudges
• slight interruptions in the brightness of the holographic texture
• slight irregularities in the surface of the board
• a slight inking defect (fine ink smudge/dry error)
• noticeable but not extensive cutting defects
• moderatesilvering
• a slight shift in registration resulting in imperfect sharpness

Visual appeal: Very pleasing

Near Mint/Mint refers to a state of average to poor production quality or to a state of conservation with discrete traces of wear that only slightly affect the original visual appeal as a whole.

It can be characterised by :

• a multitude of transverse print lines, factory scratches
• a noticeable lack of inking
• relatively pronounced and extensive cutting defects
• a pronounced and extensive silvering

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• rare and discreet micro-scratches from handling or traces of rubbing (especially on the back)
• rare and minimal white spots of wear on the back on the corners or edges

Visual appeal : Pleasing

Near Mint refers to a state of poor production quality or a state of preservation with slight traces of wear that only modestly affect the original visual appeal as a whole.

It can be characterised by :

• very numerous, transverse and marked print lines or factory scratches
• a pronounced inking defect on the edge of the Misprint
• very pronounced and extensive cutting defects
• a very pronounced and extensive silvering

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• slight micro-scratches from handling or rubbing on the back and front
• several slightly noticeable white spots of wear on the reverse surface
• a discrete production wrinkle (spider wrinkle: wrinkle visible on one side only)
• a shallow and discreet indentation on the reverse side
• incipient but slight traces of fraying (discolouration) on the corners and edges on the reverse.

Visual appeal: Very satisfactory

This grade designates a condition corresponding to a deplorable production quality or a state of conservation showing multiple signs of light wear, some of which clearly impact the visual appeal on the front.

It can be characterised by :

• multiple scratches covering the reverse side and part of the front side
• multiple marks of rubbing distinguishable on the back as well as the front
• multiple, fairly noticeable white spots of wear on the reverse surface
• discrete discolouration of some areas of the card
• a superficial and discreet indentation on the front
• a small and discreet surface wrinkle (from handling)
• slight fraying of the corners and edges in several areas on the reverse side.

Visual appeal: Satisfactory

This grade indicates a state of conservation with many signs of moderate wear on both the reverse and the front.

It can be characterised by :

• numerous scratches and rubbing marks on the back and front
• numerous white spots of wear, some of which are quite pronounced on the surface on the reverse side
• moderate discolouration of the surface (e.g. an obvious and extensive sun fade)
• rare minor surface deposits embedded on the reverse side
• a noticeable and deep sinkhole of moderate size
• several small and discrete surface wrinkles
• pronounced fraying of corners and edges on some areas of the reverse side.

This grade indicates a state of conservation with many signs of wear on both the reverse and the front.

It can be characterised by :

• numerous scratches on the back and front, some of them quite deep
• a noticeable discoloration of the surface
• a multitude of minor deposits encrusted especially on the reverse side
• several notable and deep indentations of moderate size, especially on the reverse side
• a moderate-sized wrinkle or a superficial and discrete fold
• une ride de taille modérée ou une pliure superficielle et discrète

This grade indicates a state of conservation with many signs of wear, some of which are particularly pronounced.

It can be characterised by :

• very pronounced scratches covering almost the entire surface on both sides
• superficial scratches
• a pronounced discolouration of the surface (e.g. a complete and extensive sun fade)
• a multitude of minor deposits embedded on the reverse side and as on the front side
• numerous dents, some of which are quite marked on the front
• a few noticeable wrinkles, especially on the back, or several superficial and discreet folds
• severe fraying of the majority of the corners and edges which are beginning to crumble noticeably

This grade indicates a state of conservation with many signs of wear, some of which are of major importance.

It is characterised by :

• deep scratches
• a very pronounced discoloration of the surface
• numerous deposits of moderate size, particularly on the reverse side
• a multitude of very pronounced indentations and wrinkles on the back and front
• a fairly deep and noticeable intermediate-sized fold
• a very pronounced and extensive fraying of the corners and edges, which have a relatively rounded and pudgy appearance over a localised area.

This grade indicates a state of conservation with very advanced signs of wear that could profoundly affect the integrity of the map.

It can be characterised by :

• significant surface detachments
• a very tarnished and discoloured surface
• numerous moderate-sized deposits that have permeated both the reverse and the front
• several fairly deep and notable intermediate-sized folds
• strongly marked and extensive fraying of the corners and edges, which have a particularly rounded and pudgy or even noticeably disintegrated appearance
• the pronounced bark of a corner.

This grade indicates a state of conservation with extreme signs of wear that could seriously compromise the integrity of the card.

It can be characterised by :

• pronounced and extensive surface detachments
• an extremely tarnished and discoloured surface
• a stain that has deeply and extensively permeated most of the map
• a deep, transverse fold
• extreme and extensive fraying of the corners and edges, with a severely rounded, pudgy or even severely disintegrated appearance
• the pronounced debarking of several corners.

A card which, depending on the minimum grade chosen, has not been given a grade but has received a grade attesting to its authenticity.

A card with the signature of its illustrator. Depending on the proof of authenticity provided at the time of the order, the following additional mentions may be attributed: Verified Signature, Unverified Signature or Altered Signature.

A card with an ink deposit (especially tone-on-tone) or with a signature recognised as not authentic..

A card that has partially or completely missed the corner rounding step performed by the cutting press.

A card whose printing plate has suffered a major misalignment during cutting and whose centering ratio, calculated from the width of its edges, is worse 70/30 or worse.

A card where the printing plate has been extremely misaligned during the cutting process, resulting in a portion of the card disappearing on both the front and the back and possibly revealing a piece of another card. Also a card with an abnormal cut-out shape (e.g. Twisted Miscut).

A card whose sheet was misaligned during printing on one of its sides producing a major registration error between its front and back.

A card with the front side printed in the opposite direction to the back side (printed first), sometimes mistakenly called “Inverted Back“.

A card with a major printing anomaly, often related to inking, foiling, hot stamping or the correct alignment of its various layers.

A card that, due to misalignment during the packaging process, has an indented pattern on its surface left by the heat press stamps sealing the boosters.

A card whose cardboard has been altered by adhesive before printing, soiled afterwards by any substance during production (e.g. spillage of varnish) or by a substance linked to its packaging (e.g. “glue stain” on Shadowless theme decks).

A card on which a piece of the sheet at the edge of the area to be printed has been folded.