FAQ

A parallel card is a special variant of a normal base card that differs in terms of its design, color, finish, or limited edition status. The structure and image motif remain identical to the normal card, but the appearance is altered by special features.✅ What makes a parallel card special? It is often rarer than the standard card (“base”). Many parallels are numbered (e.g., “/99” means only 99 pieces worldwide). They often have special colors, patterns, or effects such as: Gold, Blue, Green, Red, Black, Cracked Ice, Wave, Mojo, Scope, Nebula, etc. Some parallels are One of One (1/1) – meaning they are absolutely unique! 📈 Example: The base card of an NBA player is plain. The “Red Wave Parallel” of the same card shines in red and is limited to, for example, /199. A “Gold Parallel” might even exist in only /10 or fewer copies.⚠️ Important: Parallels are extremely popular with collectors because they are rarer than base cards. The lower the limitation or the more special the effect, the higher the collector's value often is. “Same motif – but rarer, more colorful, and more valuable.” → That's a parallel!

A rookie card is the first officially released trading card of a player in a professional league or team.👉 It marks the player's entry into their professional career and is therefore often particularly sought-after and valuable. 👉 Rookie cards often bear a “rookie” logo (e.g., RC or Rookie Card) and are usually released in the first year that the player officially plays in the league.✅ Why are rookie cards so popular? They are considered the most valuable cards of a player, especially if the player goes on to have a successful career. Particularly sought-after rookies can explode in value when the player becomes a star.⚠️ Important to know: Not every card from a player's first year is automatically an official rookie card. It must be a licensed card from the manufacturer that bears the “rookie” logo or is considered as such. Previous cards from college, junior leagues, or promo sets usually do not count as real rookie cards.📈 Example: LeBron James' first NBA card (2003-04) or Tom Brady's first NFL card (2000) are their official rookie cards – and today they are absolute collector's items.

The condition of a card is crucial to its value. Collectors evaluate cards based on four main criteria:✅ The 4 main criteria for card condition: Edges: ➡ Are the edges clean, without white spots, fraying, or chipping? Corners: ➡ Are the corners sharp or rounded, damaged or dented? Surface: ➡ Are there any scratches, printing errors, dents, stains or dirt on the front or back? Centering: ➡ Is the print centered? With many cards, you can immediately see if the edge is uneven at the top/bottom or left/right. Condition grades (examples): Mint/Near Mint (NM-MT): ➡ Almost perfect – minimal to no visible flaws. ➡ Highly sought after! Excellent (EX): ➡ Minor flaws – e.g., slight white spots on the edges or minimal surface scratches. Good (GD): ➡ Significant signs of wear – rounded corners, scratches, or slight creases. Poor (PR):➡ Severe damage – creases, tears, dirt, water stains. 🎯 Pro tip: If you want to be absolutely sure, have your cards graded by a grading company (e.g., PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC). The card will then be inspected, graded (on a scale of 1 to 10), and sealed in a secure plastic case.🔧 How to inspect? Use good lighting. Use a magnifying glass or loupe. Look at the card from all sides. Pay attention to reflections – small scratches are often only visible in the light. Compare with photos of PSA 10 cards on the internet. "The sharper the corners, the cleaner the edges and p

Grading companies are specialized service providers that professionally inspect, evaluate, and certify trading cards based on their condition. Each card is inspected according to fixed criteria, given a grade from 1 to 10, and then sealed in a plastic case (slab). This protects the card and makes its condition clearly verifiable for everyone. ✅ What are the benefits of grading?📈 Increase in value: A PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 is worth significantly more than an ungraded card in the same condition.🔒 Protection: The card is protected from scratches, moisture, and damage. 🎯 Security: Buyers and sellers know exactly what condition the card is in – this creates trust.🌍 Global standard: Whether in the US, Germany, or Japan – a PSA 10 is a PSA 10 everywhere.🧠

🏆 The 6 main factors determining the value of a card: 1. Rarity➡ Limited editions, parallels, 1/1 cards, or cards with extremely low print runs are automatically more valuable. 2. Condition➡ The better the condition (ideally graded PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+), the higher the market value. 3. Grading (certification)➡ Graded cards are usually significantly higher in value because their condition is officially confirmed. PSA 10, BGS 10 (Black Label) or CGC 10 achieve the highest prices. 4. Player or character (relevance)➡ Stars, legends, hyped rookies or cult characters are more valuable. LeBron, Jordan, Mbappé, Mahomes or Pokémon such as Charizard are prime examples. 5. Rare design or special inserts➡ Autograph cards, patch cards (jersey pieces), Logoman, Kaboom!, Downtown, Color Blasts, or movie cards are in extremely high demand.6. Market & hype (demand)➡ As everywhere else, supply and demand determine the price. Is the player hyped, just named MVP, or back from retirement? Boom! Value increases.