Collectors, Intermediate
Error card, damage or counterfeit? Do not price the mystery first
An unusual feature is an observation, not yet an error classification. Document it without destructive tests, establish the exact printing, and seek issue-specific expertise before assigning a premium.
For intermediate readers, read 8 Nov 2026.
Describe what you can actually see
Record the set, language, local number, finish and the unusual feature. Use neutral terms such as offset border, ink mark or surface crease before deciding how it happened. A manufacturing anomaly, post-production damage and deliberate alteration can look similar in a casual photograph.
Do not make the evidence worse
Do not tear, bend, scratch, bleach or apply cleaning products to prove a theory. Grading standards describe trimming, recoloration, restoration and cleaning as important alteration concerns. Preserve the object and its transaction records; a test that damages it can destroy both value and useful evidence.
Separate classification from market value
A genuine manufacturing error is not automatically rare, desirable or valuable. A certification label may document a grader’s conclusion but is not a guaranteed selling price. Seek an experienced evaluator for an important item and compare exact, completed transactions only after the identity is reasonably established.
3 checks before you act
- Describe what you can actually see
- Do not make the evidence worse
- Separate classification from market value
Sources read for this page
- ReadPSA grading standardsread 7 Nov 2026
- ReadOfficial counterfeit-card guidanceread 7 Nov 2026