Condition Guide

A mint card is in perfect condition; no excuses. This means, that the front is in perfect condition, there are no scratches on the surface, and the surface is perfectly clean. For the back it means, that the card is indistinguishable from cards of a newly openend booster. If a card has a signature or a Grand Prix stamp it can never be graded Mint, even if the card stock is otherwise in Mint condition.

In most cases it doesn't make sense to grade a card as Mint. For newer cards, the value of a Mint card is basically the same as a Near Mint card. Older cards (1993-96), however, may command a high premium if they are in actual Mint condition - usually professionally graded. Thus 'Mint' is mainly a grading for cards where there is a high collectors' interest or a high professional grade. For cards that are sold mostly for playing purpose, a Near Mint grade is a safer choice.

A Near Mint card looks like it has never been played without sleeves. Small allowances can be made, but the card generally shows no wear.

The border of NM card can have small white spots, but they must be very few and very small. When the card is inspected under bright daylight, the surface must generally appear clean. It can have a few minor spots, but scratches can never be allowed for NM cards.

Generally a Near Mint card is in a condition that would make it considered unmarked if played in an unsleeved deck. (Not recommended!)

As the Mint grade is often not used for cards of newer expansions, Near Mint usually means Near Mint or better (equivalent to the American NM/M grade).

At NMD Collectables we only sell raw cards at 'Near Mint' so we will not consider cards that are below the grades set above. We believe in giving the best cards to our customers!