A Beginner's Guide to Collectibles Terminology

Whether you’re a long-time collector of sports memorabilia or just getting started, there are some terms that you should know in the collectibles world. Knowing the terminology can help you build your collection and make sure that it is authentic. Here’s a brief overview of some of the most important terms in the world of collectibles.

Grading

Grading is an important part of collecting and it refers to assigning a grade to a collectible item based on its condition. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best condition possible. Grading is important because it can affect the market value of an item; if two items have similar features but one has a higher grade, then it will be worth more money than the lower-graded item. 

PSA, Beckett, KSA, CGC and iCert are five companies that offer grading services for a variety of items, including cards, tickets, comic books, and even card wrappers. Most of the time, to preserve the card in its current graded state, these companies also "slab" their items (see slabbing below). Of course, the reputation of each company varies, so how strictly and accurately each company grades every submitted item is learned with experience.

Autograph grading is also an industry, whereby third-party authenticators (see Authentication) also grade the quality of the signature on a 1-10 scale. A highly graded autograph quantifies just how aesthetically pleasing and clean a signature is, which provides a lot of value. However, this is not nearly as common or necessary as card grading. 

Authentication

Authentication refers to verifying whether or not an item is genuine or fake. Autographs, tickets, cards and game-used items are all commonly authenticated by experts who are knowledgeable about these items and able to spot any inconsistencies or irregularities that may indicate that something isn’t quite right about them. Authentication can help protect collectors from buying counterfeit items, which can be costly if they are sold as authentic pieces.

Third-party authentication is a service provided by companies who take in submitted material and verify their authenticity based on their educated expertise. JSA, PSA, Beckett, KSA, CGC and iCert all offer third-party authentication for various items. JSA is the world's leading third-party authenticator for autographs, and they only authenticate hand-written material. PSA, Beckett and KSA also authenticate autographs, but they also will provide authentication for cards, tickets, and other collectable items that they also provide grading for. CGC and iCert do not authenticate autographs, but can provide authentication for a number of different collectable items for which they also provide grading. 

Fanatics is also a trusted authentication company, but it does not provide third-party authentication. Rather, Fanatics hosts signings and events that are hosted by the company, so they can verify the authenticity of each of their items because they were there to witness it. 

Edition Size or Limited Edition

Edition size refers to the number of copies of an item that were produced by its manufacturer or publisher. This information is typically printed on each copy so that buyers can determine how rare their item is compared to others on the market. For example, if an edition size says “1000 copies” then you know there were only 1000 copies made and therefore your copy may be more valuable than similar items with higher edition sizes due to its rarity.

Condition Terminology

• Foxing - small brown and orange spots on old documents and paper, created over time as the paper ages and deteriorates.
• Soiling - any outside dirty substance, sometimes from dirt or finger oils, that is visible to the naked eye
• Creasing - any bends or folds on a paper item will cause creasing to varying degrees. When the paper splits as a result, that is known as "surface creasing," which is largely irreversable 
• Entry rip - when a ticket is ripped upon entry to a venue. This often leaves some residual damage to the ticket, so clean entry rips are valued higher on ticket stubs
• Oxidation - metals often tarnish over time due to the exposure of oxygen, which leads to discolouration on the item
• Toning - discolouration caused by light and time, often used when referring to the yellowing on old baseballs.

Slabbing

When collectibles are graded, typically they are also encased in a hard plastic sleeve to preserve their current condition called a "slab." This service is offered not only to protect the item, but also to display the item with a brief description.

Useful Acronyms

• SGA - Short for "stadium giveaway" - bobbleheads, figurines, jerseys etc. that are given to fans in limited supply at events, but not generally sold to the public otherwise.
• JSA - James Spence Authentication, the premier third-party autograph authentication company in North America
• PSA - Professional Sports Authenticator, the largest and most-trusted trading card authentication and grading company in the world. They are also a highly regarded autograph authenticator
• BAS - Beckett Authentication Services, the sector of Beckett that deals with autograph authentication
• LOA - Letter of Authenticity 
• COA - Certificate of Authenticity, sometimes referred to as a "basic" certification
• VTG - Shorthand for "vintage"

Type 1 Photograph

Photographs can be designated Type 1, 2, 3 or 4 based on when and how the photo was produced. 

• Type 1 - the photograph was developed from the original negative within roughly two years of when the photo was taken
• Type 2 - the photo was developed from the original negative more than two years after the photo was originally taken
• Type 3 - the photo was developed from a duplicate negative or a wire transmission within roughly two years of when the photo was taken
• Type 4 - the photo was developed from a duplicate negative or a wire transmission more than two years after the photo was originally taken

Type 1 is the most valuable and sought after designation for photos, so you'll see that classification featured more prominently than the rest. 

Hard-signed

This term refers to an autograph being signed directly onto the item, as opposed to something (like a transparent sticker) being signed and later applied to the item. 

Facsimile Autograph

If an autograph is referred to as a "facsimile autograph" it is printed on for mass production, and not hard-signed (see hard-signed), so it is considerably less valuable. 

Photo Matched

The most common and foolproof way to verify the authenticity of game-used material is to match the item with in-game footage. If you can find a photo of the item with distinct features (say, a rip in a jersey, or a ball-mark on a baseball bat), you can use that photo as evidence that the exact item was used in that specific game. 

Sweet Spot

The "sweet spot" on a baseball refers to the blank, narrow lane between the two seams. It is the often the most aesthetically pleasing (and thus valuable) location to sign the ball.

Ticket Stub

This is the portion of the ticket given back to the attendee after it is ripped upon entry. The portion of the ticket that is kept by the venue is referred to as a "control stub." Of course, physical tickets are rarely used these days and when they are, they're scanned, not ripped. 

Collecting sports memorabilia is incredibly fun and rewarding for diehard fans and casual collectors alike, but before you dive into it headfirst it’s important that you understand some key terminology in order to ensure that your collection remains authentic and valuable over time. Knowing these terms will give you a greater appreciation for your beloved pieces while also ensuring they remain in top condition for years to come!