PSA
Grading Authority Founded 1991 • USA

PSA Grading Services

Professional Sports Authenticator: Professional Sports Card & TCG Grading Standards

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10/10 Trust Score
Grading Scale 1–10
Authentication Mode Human-only
Cert Verification Available ↗

Market Analysis: PSA

Institutional Standard: PSA represents the gold standard in the hobby. Slabs from this provider are highly liquid assets, universally recognized by auction houses (Heritage, Goldin) and serious investors. They command the highest resale multipliers in the USA market.

Technology & Protocol

Analog Legacy: PSA relies on the traditional 'Human Expert' model. Three or more professional graders review the card under magnification. This approach is favored by vintage collectors who value 'Eye Appeal' over rigid mathematical perfection. Using a 1–10 scale, they evaluate cards based on the four core subgrades. Operating in the heart of the hobby, PSA competes directly with industry titans. To succeed here, they focus on aggressive turnaround times and competitive bulk pricing.

Grading Standards & Benchmarks

Target Tier: gem mint 10

Centering

55/45 front, 75/25 back

Corners

Four sharp corners to the naked eye, slight fraying under 10x magnification allowed

Edges

Virtually perfect, slight specks of white allowed if extremely minor

Surface

No staining, but a minor printing imperfection is allowed if it doesn't detract from appeal

Target Tier: mint 9

Centering

60/40 front, 80/20 back

Corners

One minor flaw allowed

Edges

Slight rough edges allowed

Surface

Minor surface wear allowed

These metrics are curated from official company statements and confirmed Gem Mint 10 technical analysis.

Slab Ecosystem

PSA Example Slab 1
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PSA Example Slab 2
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PSA Example Slab 3
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Company Vital Data

Headquarters USA
Year Active 1991 - Present
Market Sector Sports Cards & TCG
Credibility Ranking

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