Editing Trading card (section)

==Value==
Today, the development of the Internet has given rise to various online communities, through which members can trade collectible cards with each other. Cards are often bought and sold via [[eBay]] and other online retail sources. Many websites solicit their own "sell to us" page in hopes to draw in more purchase opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danscardz.com/servlet/the-template/Sell/Page |title=Dan's Sports Cards & Games Sell |access-date=2011-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823095108/http://www.danscardz.com/servlet/the-template/Sell/Page |archive-date=2011-08-23 }}</ref>

Singles are usually of higher value than contemporary cards which are often sold as "bulk" or as a personal collection.<ref name="OWENS">{{Citation| last1 =Owens| first1 =Thomas S.| last2 =Helmer| first2 =Diana Star| title =Inside Collectible Card Games| year =1996| page =13}}</ref> Ordinary collectible cards serve little function beyond [[souvenir|memorabilia]], but cards from [[collectible card game]]s (CCGs) are also used in game [[tournament]]s.<ref name="LEE"/> Generally, CCGs fetch higher initial prices than trading cards because of the dual nature of being both a [[game]] piece and a [[collectible]].<ref name="LEE">{{Citation | last =Brown| first =Timothy| title =Official Price Guide to Collectible Card Games| year =1999| page =5}}</ref> Prices will fluctuate for CCGs as cards become legal or illegal to play in certain game formats.

The value of a trading card depends on a combination of the card's condition, the subject's popularity, and the scarcity of the card. In some cases, especially with older cards that preceded the advent of card collecting as a widespread [[hobby]], they have become [[Collectible|collectors' items]] of considerable value. In recent years, many sports cards have not necessarily appreciated as much in value due to overproduction, although some manufacturers have used limited editions and smaller print runs to boost value. Trading cards, however, do not have an absolute monetary value. Cards are only worth as much as a collector is willing to pay.<ref name="MLBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/nbbcd/pop_faq.html |title=Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=May 15, 2010}}</ref>

Valued at $44 billion today{{When|date=February 2025}}, the global sports trading card market is expected to surge to approximately $100 billion by 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ian |date=2023-03-30 |title=How Fanatics and MLB are planning to keep the trading card boom going |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/30/how-fanatics-mlb-capitalize-on-baseball-card-boom.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

===Condition===
Card condition is one aspect of trading cards that determine the value of a card. There are four areas of interest in determining a card's condition. Centering, corners, edges and surface are taken into consideration for imperfections, such as color spots and blurred images, and wear, such as creases, scratches, and tears, when determining a trading card's value.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trading Card Grading Guide|url=http://www.cardboardconnection.com/comprehensive-guide-card-grading|work=CardboardConnection.com|publisher=The Cardboard Connection|access-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> Cards are considered poor to pristine based on their condition, or in some cases rated 1 through 10.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.beckett.com/estore/helpsys/viewarticle.aspx?ArticleId=47 |title=Grading Cards - BGS |publisher=Beckett |access-date=April 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608224950/http://www.beckett.com/estore/helpsys/viewarticle.aspx?ArticleId=47 |archive-date=June 8, 2010 }}</ref> A card in pristine condition, for example, will generally be valued higher than a card in poor condition. Major card grading companies which provide these ratings on a scale of 1-10 include PSA, Beckett, and SGC. They provide individual grades for the centering, corners, edges, and surface of the card to eventually combine for one final grade. Older cards are generally more sensitive to wear and tear, meaning a '7' might lessen the value of a card printed in 2018, but could significantly increase the value of a card from 1950. While the grade has a major impact on the card's value, the population does as well. For example, there are over 20,000 Luka Doncic 2018 Base Prizm Cards graded a PSA 10, meaning this large population drives down the value of each card.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:1000px"
! width=120px| Condition
! width=780px| Description
|-
|Pristine
|Perfect card. No imperfections or damage to the naked eye and upon close inspection.
|-
|Mint condition
|No printing imperfections or damage to the naked eye. Very minor printing imperfections or damage upon close inspection. Clean gloss with one or two scratches.
|-
|Near Mint/Mint
|No printing imperfections or damage to the naked eye, but slight printing imperfections or damage upon close inspection. Solid gloss with very minor scratches.
|-
|Near Mint
|Noticeable, but minor, imperfections or wear on the card. Solid gloss with very minor scratches.
|-
|Excellent/Near Mint
|Noticeable, but minor, imperfections or wear on the card. Mostly solid gloss with minor scratches.
|-
|Excellent
|Noticeable imperfections or moderate wear on the card. Some gloss lost with minor scratches.
|-
|Very Good/Excellent
|Noticeable imperfections or moderate wear on the card. Heavy gloss lost with very minor scuffing, and an extremely subtle tear.
|-
|Very Good
|Heavy imperfections or heavy wear on the card. Almost no gloss. Minor scuffing or very minor tear.
|-
|Good
|Severe imperfections or wear on the card. No gloss. Noticeable scuffing or tear.
|-
|Poor
|Destructive imperfections or wear on the card. No gloss. Heavy scuffing, severe tear or heavy creases.
|}

===Popularity===
Popularity of trading cards is determined by the subject represented on the card, their real life accomplishments, and short term news coverage, as well as the specifics of the card.<ref name="MLBFAQ" />

===Scarcity===
While vintage cards are truly a scarce commodity, modern-day manufacturers have to artificially add value to their products in order to make them scarce. This is accomplished by including serial-numbered parallel sets, cards with game-worn memorabilia and more. Time can also make cards more scarce due to the fact that cards may be lost or destroyed.<ref name=honuswag />

Some singles have been [[autograph]]ed by someone related to the card. The person who autographed the card may be depicted, or their artwork is visible on the card. Cards may also be autographed by the card designer or by a person famous for using that card. The value of an autographed card has been debated, often depending on who has autographed it or the scarcity of the autograph. In some cases, an autograph can be seen as damage to the card, or [[graffiti]].<ref name="OWENS"/><ref name="MILLER2">{{Citation |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |title=Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition | year=2003 |page=48 |postscript=.}}</ref>