Frequently Asked Questions

Legacy grades a wide range of trading cards and comic books, including modern and vintage collectibles.

Trading cards can include TCG cards, sports cards, promotional cards and other collectible cards from a wide variety of manufacturers, franchises, languages and eras.

If you have an unusual collectible and aren’t sure whether we can grade it, contact us before submitting.

Legacy uses a 1–10 numerical grading scale, with 10 Gem Mint representing our highest grade.

Each grade represents a different level of overall condition.

You can find a complete explanation on our Grade Definitions page.

A Grade 10 represents an exceptional example that meets our Gem Mint standard.

Minor manufacturing characteristics can occur even on pack-fresh cards, so grading is based on the collectible as a whole and against our published grading standards.

For trading cards, Centering, Corners, Edges and Surface are assessed when determining the grade.

Legacy allows centering of up to 55/45 for our highest trading card grade.

A card therefore does not necessarily need to be perfectly 50/50 centered to achieve a Gem Mint 10, provided its centering remains within our permitted tolerance and the other grading areas meet the required standard.

Further information can be found on our Grading Standards page.

Subgrades provide a more detailed breakdown of the condition of a trading card.

Legacy assesses four principal areas:

Centering • Corners • Edges • Surface

Where applicable, these individual assessments are displayed on the card’s online certification report.

No.

The final grade represents our assessment of the card as a whole and is not simply calculated by averaging the four subgrades.

The severity, location and significance of individual defects are also considered. A significant defect in one area may therefore influence or limit the final grade.

Yes.

Being removed directly from a booster pack does not guarantee a Gem Mint 10.

Cards can leave the manufacturing process with characteristics such as print lines, surface marks, edge or corner imperfections, cutting issues and centering variations.

The card is graded according to the condition presented to Legacy, regardless of whether it has previously been handled or played.

Our four principal trading card grading areas are:

Centering • Corners • Edges • Surface

Each area is individually examined before the final overall grade is determined.

Yes.

We accept both modern and vintage trading cards.

Older cards are assessed against the same condition principles, while recognising the manufacturing processes and characteristics associated with different eras.

Yes.

We can grade cards produced in a variety of languages, subject to our ability to accurately identify and assess the collectible.

Yes.

Legacy can grade eligible sports and other collectible cards as well as traditional trading card game products.

Yes, in many cases.

A card does not need to be in high-grade condition to be submitted.

However, exceptionally severe damage or deterioration may make a card unsuitable for safe handling or encapsulation.

Certain misprints, manufacturing errors and unusual production characteristics may be accepted for grading.

Acceptance for grading does not automatically mean that Legacy will formally recognise or designate the characteristic as an official error or variation.

Certain custom and fan-art cards may be accepted for condition grading and encapsulation.

The grade awarded to these items represents an assessment of their physical condition only.

Encapsulation does not authenticate or confirm that a custom or fan-art card is an officially licensed or manufacturer-issued trading card.

Where appropriate, the item may be identified as custom, fan art or unofficial on its certification record or label.

Legacy accepts a range of modern and vintage comic books.

Eligibility depends on the comic’s dimensions, construction, condition and whether it can be safely accommodated within our available encapsulation system.

Comic books require a different assessment from trading cards.

Areas considered can include:

Cover • Spine • Corners • Edges • Interior Pages • Structural Condition

The type, quantity, severity and location of defects are considered when determining the final grade.

No.

Age itself does not determine a grade.

The grade reflects the condition of the individual comic. An older comic that has been exceptionally well preserved may achieve a considerably higher grade than a newer comic that has been poorly handled or stored.

Yes.

Spine ticks and stress marks are common condition characteristics and do not automatically make a comic unsuitable for grading.

Their number, severity and whether they break colour can influence the final assessment.

Potentially, yes.

Tears and creases will generally affect the condition grade, but their presence does not automatically prevent a comic from being graded.

Severely damaged or structurally unstable comics may be declined if we believe encapsulation could cause further damage.

Restoration or alteration may affect whether a comic is suitable for our standard grading service.

If you know or believe that a comic has undergone restoration, we recommend contacting us before submitting it.

Our current grading prices are:

Trading Cards — £12 per card

Comic Books — £19 per comic

Current prices and available options should always be checked on the relevant submission page before placing your order.

No value-based upcharges.

The grading fee is based on the grading service selected rather than the value or final grade of your collectible.

A collectible becoming more valuable because it receives a high grade does not result in an additional grading fee.

Our published turnaround window is generally 7–35 working days from arrival, depending on submission volume, collectible type and the work required.

Larger or more complex submissions may take longer.

Turnaround times are estimates rather than guaranteed completion dates unless specifically stated otherwise.

Start by completing the appropriate submission process on the Legacy website.

You will receive the information required to prepare and send your collectibles to us.

We strongly recommend packaging cards and comics securely to minimise movement and provide adequate protection during transit.

Yes.

You can submit multiple eligible cards or comics within the same submission, subject to the options available through the submission system.

Yes.

Legacy provides professional grading for both trading cards and comic books.

Because they use different grading and encapsulation processes, follow the relevant submission instructions for the type of collectible you are sending.

Only use the delivery and submission methods currently offered by Legacy.

If you would like to arrange something outside the standard submission process, contact us first rather than arriving without prior arrangement.

Collectibles should be securely protected and packed so that they cannot move excessively during transit.

For cards, avoid packaging methods that make the card difficult to remove safely.

Comic books should be appropriately supported and protected against bending, corner impacts and moisture.

Yes.

Legacy provides submission tracking so you can follow the progress of your collectibles through the grading process.

Depending on the submission, statuses may include:

Payment Received → Submission Accepted → Received → Grading → Labelling → Slabbing → Quality Control → Shipped

Your collectible has entered the assessment stage and is being processed through our grading workflow.

The grading assessment has progressed to the stage where the information and presentation required for the slab label are being prepared.

Your collectible is progressing through the encapsulation stage.

The graded collectible is undergoing final checks before the order is prepared for return.

Changes cannot always be made once processing has started.

If you need to change something, contact Legacy as soon as possible. We will let you know whether the requested change is still possible.

Eligible Legacy submissions include our custom artwork label presentation at no additional grading charge.

Artwork and presentation may vary depending on the collectible, available assets and suitability.

You can provide information about your preferences when appropriate, but specific artwork or designs cannot always be guaranteed.The final label must also be suitable for use within the Legacy slab and certification system.

Our Label Gallery showcases a selection of artwork labels created for Legacy graded cards and comic books.

Yes. Eligible collectibles graded and encapsulated by Legacy receive a unique Legacy certification number associated with their grading record.

Use the appropriate certification search on the Legacy website and enter the available certification information.

Legacy provides separate certification searches for trading cards and comic books.

Depending on the collectible and grading record, a certification may include:

Final Grade • Subgrades • Grading Notes • Collectible Details • Images • Detailed Defect Images • Slab Label

Where recorded during grading, Detailed Defect Images highlight particular condition characteristics identified by our grading team.

These images can be enlarged on compatible certification reports and may include an accompanying defect note.

Not every certification will require or contain additional defect photography.

Where no detailed defect images were recorded, compatible certification reports will display:

No Detailed Defect Images Recorded

Compatible Legacy slabs contain NFC technology that provides convenient access to the collectible’s online certification information.

Hold a compatible smartphone near the NFC-enabled area of the slab and the associated certification record can be opened.

No app required. Simply tap, view and verify.

Yes.

Compatible Legacy certification reports include a Copy Certification Link option.

This allows you to share the grading record with another collector or include the certification when displaying or selling your collectible online.

Completed submissions are securely packaged before being returned using the delivery service selected or provided for the submission.

If your Legacy slab becomes damaged, contact us with photographs and your certification number.

We can then advise whether the collectible is eligible for a reholder service.

A grade represents Legacy’s professional assessment of the collectible in the condition presented at the time of grading.

If you believe there is an issue with your certification or graded collectible, contact us with your certification number and details of your concern so the team can review the matter.

No.

Grading provides an assessment of condition and, where applicable, other services described by Legacy. It does not guarantee the current or future monetary value, desirability or resale price of a collectible.

Market values can change independently of a collectible’s grade.