Should I grade my old Pokémon collection?

I haven’t collected any new cards since 2001 but I still have decent size collection. Most of cards should be good condition and most of them were opened by me and maybe slipped from binder to binder but besides that I never play with them.

The only second hand cards I have were some half completed set of 1st edition base set.

Currently I have full set from base set to gym challenge with all 1st edition except base set.

Also have a lot of random Japanese sets and cards as well but seem like those are not worth much.

What’s a good approach for my situation?

It depends on why you want to grade. Profit? For fun?

If your goal is to maximize value, grade your first edition holos that have a shot a being a 10. The exception is 1st base, where almost any holo is worth grading.

Find your best condition holos, do the necessary research of seeing what they would be worth as a PSA 7, 8, 9 or 10. Pick the cards with the most potential, grade a small batch of them first.

It’s all about condition. You need to learn some intuition behind the grading scale before you can determine whether to grade something. This strategy would provide a bit if insight on how PSA grades while also minimizing risk.

2 Likes

You should grade your cards when the time + money it costs is less than the cards graded value subtracted by the value as is.

Start by looking carefully at your ungraded cards, determining what there grades are likely to be and then what those market prices are(pokemonprice.com). Then, go to psacard.com and determine the price for grading. Determine what the potential added value is (go to tcgplayer.con for raw card values) and then make your decision. If you aren’t sure how to evaluate what grade your cards may be, watch some YouTube videos that might explain it.

Hope this helps! If you post more pictures I could try to look for my self.

2 Likes

Thanks for the advice.

I was blast collecting them while I was younger but I see them as an asset now and my goal to protect or increase the value.

My strategy was send in my 15 most valuable cards first then bulk grade a couple hundred lesser value cards.

I’m also in a good financial situation so there no urgency to sell them.

1 Like

Grading is what got me back into the hobby. My childhood cards were similar rarity to yours and PSA 6-9. So it wasn’t profitable, but it was a ridiculous amount of fun and the knowledge I gained is what has sustained my interest in the hobby. Without that initial motivation to grade my cards, I probably wouldn’t have had the knowledge to make great purchases later that have helped me to grow my collection.

I recommend grading it if for no other reason than to see if it sparks a passion.

2 Likes

Teraz, I kind of want get back in collecting but I went crazy when I was younger. I have bad habit going hard when collecting.

I think worst case scenario is that I break even from grading but I hoping for the best with some of the rarer cards.

Thanks for the advice.

2 Likes

I sent the best of my collection with the mindset or preserving them for future generations to enjoy and or sell should some spike in value. Currently hunting the shining card master set after getting back my Gyarados, Celebi and Noctowl done…

Something about them being in PSA slabs and with that high 9-10 grade gives me that drive to collect I had between 99-03 when life was simpler :blush:

1 Like

Any wotc 1st holo that doesn’t show any wear or damage is worth grading. Just imagine that if it looks like it did when it came out of the pack then it should be graded.
After your first order comes back you’ll be more knowledgeable and that info can be used for the rest of your cards.

3 Likes