Vintage Holders and Defunct Services

Buyer workflow

• Identify the company and holder era.
• Check whether records remain available.
• Value the card and holder evidence separately.

What certification verification can and cannot do

An official database can confirm that a certification number corresponds to a recorded card and grade. It does not eliminate the need to compare the physical holder, label, security features and card with the official record, because copied certification numbers can appear on counterfeit holders.

Population data

Population reports show what a service has graded and recorded. They do not show every raw card, every card graded elsewhere, every crossover or every resubmission. Population should be one input, not a stand-alone rarity claim.

Official resources

• Use current official certification and grading-service documentation where available.