Should I grade a card with a crease?
How Creases Affect Grades
A crease is a major flaw. Grading companies like PSA generally assign a grade of 4 or less to cards with a noticeable crease, though a very light bend might get a 5 or 6. Even a small crease can drop a card from near-mint to poor condition.
Because the grade will be low, the card won't command the premium that high-grade copies do. The main reason to grade a creased card is to authenticate it if it's a rare card that's frequently counterfeited.
When It Might Be Worth It
If the card is a key vintage card (e.g., 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, Base Set Charizard) and you're unsure of its authenticity, grading can confirm it's real. Even in low grade, authentic examples of iconic cards can sell for hundreds or thousands.
Also, if you plan to sell and the card is valuable enough that buyers would demand authentication, grading can make the sale easier. But run the numbers: check recent sold prices for the same card in grades 1-4 and compare to raw prices plus grading fees and shipping.
- Check population reports to see if low-grade copies are common.
- Consider grading only if the card is worth $100+ even in low grade.
- Use a cheaper option like PSA's Value tier if available.
- For modern cards, a crease usually makes grading not worthwhile.
Alternatives to Grading
If you just want to protect the card, use a penny sleeve and top loader. If you want to sell, you can sell it raw and disclose the crease. Many buyers will still pay a fair price for a creased card if it's rare.
Some companies offer authentication-only services without a numeric grade, which can be cheaper and still provide peace of mind.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a crease will only drop the grade by one or two points; it often caps at 4 or lower.
- Grading a creased common card and losing money on fees.
- Assuming a low grade means the card is worthless; rare cards can still be valuable in any grade.
