For a new collector, the terminology used by baseball card collectors might be a little confusing. Some collectors who have been involved with the hobby for a while might even have a different understanding of the meaning of a certain term, as opposed to what their fellow collectors may understand a term to mean. That being said, here is a list of some terminology used in the card collecting hobby.
Cut Signature - A card which contains a signature cut from another document and inserted into the card, typically through a “window” in the card.
Factory Set - A set of baseball cards that is usually in a special wrapped box, with a seal, for distribution through hobby shops.
Graded Card - A card that has been reviewed by a professional grading service (such as PSA or Beckett) and assigned a numerical grading (often from one to ten) based on the card’s condition. The card is placed in a sealed tamper proof case, with a serial number and the grading (along with the company name who graded the card) value on the case. A graded card will have a higher value in the market than a non-graded card in most cases.
Hobby Box - A special box of cards, separate from the boxes normally sold via retail at department stores, sold only through hobby shops and dealers. These boxes are more expensive than the retail boxes, and often include special card guarantees, such as two autograph cards per hobby box, or one relic card per hobby box.
Parallel - A variation of an original print card, with other aspects of the card remaining the same as the original. Example: A parallel card may have an orange border, while the original print had a blue one. A parallel card may have an authentic signature, while the original has a reproduction of a signature. The picture and other graphics on the card may remain the same as the original.
Redemption - A card inserted into a pack, in place of the actual card it represents. This redemption card is often inserted in place of the card it represents due to the amount of time necessary to prepare the actual card. The redemption card is either mailed to the card company, or the code on the redemption card is entered into the card companies’ website, and the actual card is then mailed to the collector at a later date.
Short Print - A card that was printed in a lesser quantity than other cards in it’s same set. It may be designated with the abbreviation SP.
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1 response so far ↓
1 Mark // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I am a new collector, but I was sorting out these older cards and had no problems, then I opened some 2005 topps cards and was going to name them, when it asked if it was a magenta, yellow, gold, platinum, or some others. Is there a rule of thumb to tell which are which. I does deffinitly effect the cost.
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