Collector Guide
How to Read a PSA Label (and Spot a Fake Slab)
A PSA slab tells you everything about a card at a glance, if you know where to look.
New guides drop every Monday and Friday.
PSA label example: the card's set, identity, numerical grade and certification number sit above the card. Read the label and verify the number with PSA; do not infer a grade just from a flattering front photo.
Photo: The Gaming Temple — actual inventory example, not a stock image.
1. The top line: year, game, set
For example, "1997 Pokémon Japanese Fossil." This tells you exactly which printing you're holding. Japanese and English cards from the same era are graded and priced separately.
2. Card name and number
The card's name plus its set number. Variants (holo, 1st Edition, Shadowless, promo) are listed here too. If a variant matters, it should be on the label.
3. The grade
The number from 1 to 10, plus its name: GEM MT 10, MINT 9, NM-MT 8, NM 7, EX-MT 6, EX 5, VG-EX 4, and so on down. Half grades (like 8.5) also exist.
4. Qualifiers
Letters after the grade, like OC (off-center), ST (stain), PD (print defect), OF (out of focus), MK (marks) or MC (miscut). These mean one flaw held the grade back, and they usually lower value.
5. The cert number and barcode
Every PSA slab has a unique cert number. Type it into PSA's free cert lookup (psacard.com/cert) or the PSA app. The card, grade and set should match exactly. Newer certs often show photos too.
How to spot a fake slab
Back-and-centering example: inspect all four blue borders, corners and edges as well as the holder's reverse label. This photograph shows the card back, not a guaranteed close-up of every flaw; surface scratches require angled-light photos. These are PSA examples, not CGC or BGS holders.
Photo: The Gaming Temple — actual inventory example, not a stock image.
- The cert lookup doesn't match the card, or doesn't exist
- The label font, spacing or colors look off next to a real slab
- The back of the label is missing PSA's hologram
- The case looks cloudy, cracked or tampered with at the edges
Our promise
Every graded card we sell is a real PSA slab. Check the cert yourself on any listing.
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