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The Complete Guide to Trading Cards

Blog Written by Pamela Siegel
Written by: Pamela Siegel
November 26, 2022 Updated 01:06 PM
November 26, 2022 Updated 01:06 PM
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Collectible baseball cards

by Pamela Siegel

When collectors think about trading cards, sports-related examples often come to mind initially. But did you know that the first examples were called “trade” cards? Yes, they came about in the late 1600s as a way to advertise a business, or trade, as noted by creasecollector. These forerunners to business cards became increasingly interesting and colorful in the 1800s as printing processes evolved, and by the late Victorian era, they were being saved in scrapbooks and albums as collectibles.

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A variety of Victorian trade cards

Sports entered the picture when they started appearing on trade cards more and more frequently in the late 1800s. This includes illustrations of groups of baseball or hockey players taking part in games. Baseball, in fact, was the first professional sport to enter the trade card arena in a more specific way.

The Goodwin Tobacco Company introduced cigarette cards in 1887. These stiff cards were inserted in packages of cigarettes to bolster the packaging while also serving as a premium – what we know now as a gift-with-purchase – for buyers of their Old Judge brand. These were the first to use the format of depicting a single player on each example. They are often considered to be the forerunner to the modern baseball card, setting the stage for a complete genre of future collecting. Many other types of tobacco cards were made depicting athletes as well. 

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Antique cigarette or tobacco card

Types of Trading Cards

Since the days when the first cigarette cards, also known as Old Judge Baseball Cards by collectors, were distributed in packs of smokes, the hobby has grown to include a wide range of topics. This includes other sports, pop culture icons, and even games.

These are some of the most common types of trading cards sought today: 

Sports trading cards. Sports are the most common topic featured on collectible trading cards. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. was the first company to package trading cards with bubble gum in 1949, according to Topps.com. From baseball and football to hockey and tennis, players of every type appear on cards produced with collecting in mind. Other sports like auto racing, soccer, cricket, and the like all have their own sets of trading cards.

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Boxed set of hockey trading cards

There are many subsets of sports trading cards as well. For instance, in the realm of baseball cards, there are base cards, which are included in a company’s main set, along with rookie cards, autographed cards, insert cards, and many other variations, according to Upper Deck, a major distributor of trading cards.

Entertainment cards. Known as “Hoppy” to Boomer kids everywhere, Hopalong Cassidy – a fictional cowboy who was the star of radio and television programs, books, and movies – was the first character to be featured on a Topps trading card in 1950. Many others followed, including those from ultra-popular movies such as Star Wars and superheroes like Batman and Superman. Non-fiction entertainment icons like Elvis Presley and familiar historical figures have also been depicted on trading cards.

Many other topics fall into the category of entertainment cards, too. Sets have been printed featuring dinosaurs, trains, and the military, along with a host of other subjects, as noted by The Cardboard Connection. Humorous sets like Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages depicting parodies of familiar products are also filed under this type of card. Some that were widely sold in the 1990s, called “junk wax” cards are very inexpensive albeit fun to collect. Others feature holograms or small pieces of memorabilia collectors call “relics.”

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Trading cards ranging from Pokémon to sports and entertainment examples

Trading card games. With the popularity of Pokémon Go arising several years ago, more people than ever know about Pikachu and other Pokémon Trading Card Game characters that originated as part of a fun activity for kids in 1996. Even before then, Magic: The Gathering captured the attention of older fantasy fans.

These games combine the hobby of collecting trading cards with actual gameplay for two or more participants, with the rules varying from game to game. Players usually begin by purchasing a starter deck and often add booster packs to grow their sets. Exchanging cards with others is also a common practice. Yu-Gi-Oh!, Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game, and Game of Thrones: The Card Game are others that are popular with trading card game enthusiasts.

What Makes a Card Collectible and Valuable

The driving factors that make cards collectible are popularity and rarity. For sports cards, that means the most prevalent teams or players often garner the most attention. Other personalities or characters found on entertainment or game cards follow suit. For instance, while both bands originated in the 1960s, there are more collectors of Beatles trading cards than those seeking Monkees cards.

Defining a card as rare means that it is very hard to find. When popular cards are in high demand or hard to obtain, their value usually rises. That means the market can fluctuate, so collectors must keep that in mind when buying costly cards. There’s no guarantee if you hold on to them that the value will go up. Buying what you like and taking pride in ownership is part of the value proposition with collectibles.

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A variety of ungraded baseball cards in binder sleeve

With that said, the true value of a trading card often depends on how many other people want to add that example to a collection at any given time. For example, original Honus Wagner cards issued from 1909 to 1911 – described as the “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards by MLB.com – sells for millions because there are few available, and several collectors with deep pockets that want to own them. That’s not always the case with obscure items when there’s no demand for them.

Condition also plays a big part in the value of trading cards of all kinds. No matter how desirable the subject matter is or how rare they are, cards with damage of any kind are devalued accordingly. Assessing the severity of damage can be difficult, however, so many people use professional grading services to assist with the task.

Grading Trading Cards

When it comes to trading cards, things like fading, flattening, minor creases, scratches, and less-than-perfect corners are all condition issues an untrained eye might overlook. Some rare cards have been reproduced, and signatures have been faked, too. Making sure you have the genuine article through authentication is important before putting an item up for sale. Grading is a way to accomplish these tasks in one step.

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Graded Elvis Presley entertainment card

Cards of any type can be graded, but collectors usually reserve the practice for examples that exceed the cost of the service. Once a professional grader carefully examines a trading card to authenticate it, they then rank it, and it is permanently sealed in a tamperproof clear plastic holder (also known as a “slab”) so that both sides are visible. A label is affixed at the top denoting the date and maker of the card, how the card ranks in condition from “poor” to a “perfect 10,” and a serial number that is entered into a database. Rarest and most valuable cards are hard to market for top value if they are not graded.

There are several well-known companies that grade a wide array of trading cards, including Beckett Grading Services (BSG), Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), and Sportscard Guaranty (SGC). You can often get discounts by submitting several cards at once. Quick turnarounds can usually be obtained for an additional charge. Each service has their own pricing structure and requirements for submissions, so visiting their respective websites for more details is the best place to start.

How to Store Trading Cards

Way back when, kids stored store trading cards in shoeboxes with each set held together by rubber bands. Who knew that not protecting corners and ignoring measures that prevent creases and scratches would devalue rare cards over time? Today’s collectors realize, thankfully, that how and where you store your trading cards makes a difference.

The most popular methods for storing cards today are three-ring binders filled with nine-pocket plastic sheets and cardboard storage boxes specifically sized for the hobby, as mentioned on The Cardboard Connection. Three-ring binders, or albums, cost more, but they provide easier access and a better way to show off a collection without handling the individual cards as much.

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Albums filled with Pokémon cards

When using storage boxes, placing each card in a rigid plastic protector called a “toploader” is also important to protect it from damage. These sleeves come in varied sizes to fit all types of cards. A more affordable alternative is plastic sleeves that are lighter in weight. These can be a good fit for less expensive cards in a collection. And, of course, graded cards are already sealed in plastic holders, so you can place them in specially sized boxes for storage or display them as prized possessions.

One storage method those in the know tell collectors to avoid is the screw down plastic holder. These do protect cards, but if you screw the two sides together too tightly, there’s the very real potential for flattening the card held inside. Cards flattened in this way are deemed “altered” by grading companies, and rare cards can be significantly devalued as a result. Keeping cards out of direct sunlight when displaying them is also a good idea to avoid fading.

Many shoeboxes filled with cards were also relegated to attics, basements, and garages years ago after a children lost interest in them. These are problematic areas for storing paper collectibles of all types. When considering where to store collections of trading cards, keep them out of areas that are too hot, cold, or humid. If you’re not comfortable in the space, your cards won’t be either.

Want to start a trading card collection or add to your stash? Browse our Trading Card auctions on AuctionNinja.com.

 

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