A RAWLITY pre-grade is an estimated condition opinion intended to help you before you send a card for official grading. We do not encapsulate or slab cards, and we are not an official grading authority. Our scores reflect RAWLITY's careful, consistent assessment. They are an opinion, not a guarantee, and they do not claim equivalence to any third-party grading company's grade. Each evaluated card receives a unique Reference No. for looking up its report; this is not a certification number.
Every card is assessed across four core dimensions of condition. Each dimension is scored on its own, and together they describe the card's overall state.
How evenly the image is framed within the borders on front and back.
Sharpness and integrity of all four corners, checking for wear or rounding.
Cleanliness of the edges, inspecting for chipping, whitening or nicks.
Scratches, print defects, gloss and any surface imperfections.
Each of the four dimensions is rated on a 1-10 scale using the generic, condition-based descriptions below. These describe physical condition only and are not a claim of equivalence to any other grading company's numbers.
| Grade | Label | Condition description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | Virtually flawless under careful inspection: sharp corners, clean edges, pristine surface and near-perfect centering. |
| 9 | Mint | Excellent condition with only the slightest, hard-to-spot imperfection in one area. |
| 8 | NM-Mint | A minor flaw or two visible on close look: light edge wear, a touch of off-centering or a faint surface mark. |
| 7 | Near Mint | A few small, noticeable flaws such as slight corner softening or minor edge whitening. |
| 6 | Excellent-Mint | Moderate wear apparent on inspection across one or more areas, while still presenting well. |
| 5 | Excellent | Clearly visible wear: softer corners, edge whitening or surface marks, but no major damage. |
| 4 | Very Good-EX | Noticeable handling wear in several areas; the card has clearly been played or stored loosely. |
| 3 | Very Good | Heavier wear: rounded corners, significant edge wear or surface scuffing. |
| 2 | Good | Substantial wear and possible minor structural issues such as a small crease or bend. |
| 1 | Poor | Heavy damage: major creasing, tears, staining or other significant defects. |
The overall pre-grade is set by the lowest (limiting) of the four sub-grades. A card is only as strong as its weakest area, so a single low dimension caps the overall score. For example, a card with Centering 9, Corners 9, Edges 9 and Surface 6 receives an overall pre-grade of 6.
This keeps the overall figure honest: it reflects the most limiting condition issue rather than an average that could hide a weak spot.
A RAWLITY pre-grade is meant to help you decide whether and how to pursue official grading. It is an informed opinion of condition, formed under consistent conditions and documented with photographs.