PCVault

Trading card glossary

These are 40 common card collecting terms in plain language. Each one links to related terms, and the ones PCVault shows on card pages link to the feature that uses them.

Autograph

A card signed by the player. On-card autos are signed directly on the card, while sticker autos are signed on a sticker placed on the card.See also: On-card auto, Sticker auto

Base card

The standard version of a card in a set, without a special color or finish. Base cards are the most common version and the starting point for parallels.See also: Parallel

BGS

Beckett Grading Services, a company that grades cards on a 1 to 10 scale with half points. BGS slabs can also show subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface.See also: Grading, Subgrades

Black Label

A BGS 10 where all four subgrades are also 10. It is the rarest grade BGS gives and is shown with a black label on the slab.See also: BGS

Break

An event where boxes of cards are opened and the cards are split among buyers, usually by team or player. Breaks are often streamed live.

Case hit

An insert or parallel so rare that it averages about one per case of boxes. Case hits often sell for a premium.See also: Insert

Centering

How evenly the image sits within the card's borders. Graders measure centering front and back, and off-center cards grade lower.See also: Grading

Cert number

The unique number a grading company prints on a slab label. It links the slab to the grader's record of that card and grade.See also: Slab, Pop

CGC

Certified Guaranty Company, a grading company that grades trading cards on a 1 to 10 scale. CGC slabs carry a cert number you can look up.See also: Grading

Comp

Short for comparable sale: a recent sale of the same card in the same condition. Sellers use comps to price a card.See also: Percent of comps, Market value

Condition

The physical state of a card, including corners, edges, surface and centering. Condition decides the grade a card can get.See also: Grading, Raw

Gem Mint

A top grade, usually a 10 at PSA. Gem Mint cards often sell for many times the price of a 9.See also: PSA

Grading

Sending a card to a company that judges its condition, gives it a number grade and seals it in a slab. Grades make condition easier to trust when buying.See also: Slab, PSA, BGS

Hit

A valuable pull from a pack, such as an autograph, memorabilia card or low-numbered parallel. Products often promise a set number of hits per box.See also: Autograph, Numbered

Hobby box

A box sold mainly through card shops and hobby sellers. Hobby boxes usually carry more hits and exclusive parallels than retail.See also: Retail

Insert

A card from a special subset inside a product, separate from the base set. Inserts have their own design and are rarer than base.See also: Base card, Case hit

Last sold

The most recent sale price found for a card. PCVault shows it next to market value on every card page.See also: Comp, Market value

Market value

An estimate of what a card sells for today, based on recent real sales. On PCVault it is never lower than the card's last sold price.See also: Comp, Last sold

Memorabilia card

A card with a piece of game-used or player-worn material, such as a jersey or patch. Also called a relic card.See also: Patch

Numbered

A card stamped with a serial number like 12/99, showing how many copies exist. Lower print runs are usually worth more.See also: One of one, Parallel

On-card auto

An autograph signed directly on the card surface. Many collectors prefer on-card autos to sticker autos.See also: Autograph, Sticker auto

One of one

A card numbered 1/1, meaning only one copy exists. One of ones are the rarest version of a card.See also: Numbered

Patch

A memorabilia card with a piece of a jersey patch, often multi-colored. Patches with logos or numbers are prized.See also: Memorabilia card, RPA

PC

Short for personal collection: cards a collector keeps rather than sells. On PCVault, PC cards show in their own tab without an offer button.

Parallel

A version of a base card with a different color, finish or pattern, often numbered. Parallels are rarer than the base card.See also: Base card, Refractor, Numbered

Percent of comps

A price set as a percentage of a card's recent comparable sales, such as 80 percent of comps. PCVault sell mode prices carts this way.See also: Comp

Pop

Short for population: how many copies of a card a grader has given a certain grade. A low pop at a high grade usually means a scarcer card.See also: Cert number, Grading

Prizm

A popular Panini product line known for its shiny chromium cards and many colored parallels. The word is also used for the parallels themselves.See also: Parallel, Refractor

PSA

Professional Sports Authenticator, a large card grading company using a 1 to 10 scale. PSA slabs carry a cert number and population data.See also: Grading, Gem Mint, Pop

Raw

An ungraded card that is not sealed in a slab. Raw cards usually sell for less than graded copies in top condition.See also: Slab, Grading

Refractor

A chromium card with a rainbow shine when tilted. Refractors and their colored versions are common parallels in chrome products.See also: Parallel, Prizm

Retail

Packs and boxes sold in big stores. Retail usually has fewer hits than hobby boxes but sometimes has retail-only parallels.See also: Hobby box

Rookie card

A player's first official card in a licensed product, often marked RC. Rookie cards are usually a player's most collected cards.See also: RPA

RPA

Rookie Patch Auto: a rookie card with both a patch and an autograph. RPAs are among the most sought-after modern cards.See also: Rookie card, Patch, Autograph

SGC

Sportscard Guaranty, a grading company known for its black-bordered slab inserts. SGC grades on a 1 to 10 scale with half points.See also: Grading

Short print

A card printed in smaller numbers than the rest of the set, often marked SP or SSP. Short prints are harder to find than base cards.See also: Print run

Slab

The sealed plastic case a grading company puts a card in, with a label showing the grade and cert number. Slabbed cards are protected and easier to trust.See also: Grading, Cert number

Sticker auto

An autograph signed on a clear sticker that is then placed on the card. Sticker autos are common in many products.See also: Autograph, On-card auto

Subgrades

Separate scores for centering, corners, edges and surface that some graders, like BGS, print on the label. They explain how the overall grade was reached.See also: BGS, Black Label

See how PCVault uses these on real card pages: slab verification, sell mode and pricing.