The hobby of card collecting has been around for centuries and has grown in popularity over the years. Originally, cards were used for games and were printed with images of popular people and events. However, as time went on, cards became more than just a game piece and developed into a hobby for many individuals.

The origins of card collecting can be traced back to the 19th century when tobacco companies began printing images on their packaging. These images were eventually cut out and used as trading cards. Baseball cards, in particular, became extremely popular and by the early 20th century, they were being produced in large quantities by various companies. This led to the creation of card collecting as a hobby, as people began to trade and collect these cards.

Over the years, the popularity of card collecting has grown immensely. Today, there are thousands of different types of cards that people collect, ranging from sports cards to trading cards for movies, TV shows, and video games. The rise of the internet has also made it easier for people to connect with others who share their interests and to find rare or unique cards to add to their collections.

While many people view card collecting as a hobby that is solely focused on monetary value, there are many non-monetary reasons why people enjoy collecting cards. For example, collecting cards can be a way to connect with a particular interest or passion, such as a favorite sports team or movie franchise. Collecting cards can also be a way to appreciate art and design, as many cards feature intricate and visually stunning artwork.

It is important to consider the non-monetary value of card collecting, as it can be easy to get caught up in the idea of collecting cards solely for their potential financial gain. Collecting cards can be a rewarding and fulfilling hobby, regardless of their monetary value. It is important to approach card collecting with a balance of both financial and personal value, and to not get too caught up in the pursuit of financial gain.

In conclusion, the hobby of card collecting has a rich history and has grown immensely in popularity over the years. While it is often associated with monetary value, it is important to consider the non-monetary value of collecting cards, such as personal connections, appreciation for art, and fulfillment of personal interests. By approaching card collecting with a balanced perspective, individuals can truly enjoy and appreciate the hobby for all of its unique qualities.

MEET THE POKE PLATEAU

Q: What inspired you to start collecting cards?

Courtney: Matt inspired me to start collecting again.
Matt: I started collecting when I was a kid when my dad brought my brother and me to a sports card to buy packs of cards.

Q: What are your earliest memories of opening packs?

Courtney: I remember opening packs from our local books a million where you could also play with other kids. I only collected and always traded with my sister and cousins.
Matt: I remember going to a card show with my dad and brother and seeing Japanese Pokemon packs, at a time where the English cards hadn’t even come out yet. I had my dad buy me a pack and was instantly hooked.

Q: What are your favorite TGA slabs so far?

Courtney: My favorite TGA slab so far is the gold Celebrations Mew. I like all the metallic slabs so far and I love being able to customize and pair colors.
Matt: My favorite TGA Slab we have is our Shiny Charizard VMAX from Shining Fates. The Metallic Black label we chose makes the card really POP!

Q: What is one thing you would tell someone considering TGA to grade their cards?

Courtney: I would tell everyone that TGA has been great to work with, we get to customize the slabs, the grading is legit and you get your cards back in a reasonable time, unlike other grading companies.
Matt: TGA allows more customization with their slabs than any other grader. The customer service is very accommodating and transparent. The prices are also affordable for collectors. Cards are graded and returned in a reasonable time frame, compared to bigger grading companies.

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MEET IRON BOFFIN

Q: What inspired you to start collecting cards?

I can’t remember a time where I didn’t collect cards. Growing up I’ve always been into Pokemon and YuGiOh so my parents would always get cards for me!

Q: What are your earliest memories of opening packs?

My earliest memory of opening packs was breaking open my piggy bank and asking my father to take me to the store to buy Pokemon cards! I would open the packs in the car on the ride home and race inside to put them in my binder! I didn’t have penny sleeves or toploaders at the time, so they’re definitely not grading well.

Q: What are your favorite TGA slabs so far?

I have 3 favorites! My Alternate art Umbreon Vmax in a blue holo label, my PRISTINE Shiny Charizard VMAX from Shining Fates in a Holo Purple label, and my Secret rare Cresselia from Evolving Skies in a Gold holo label.

Q: What is one thing you would tell someone considering TGA to grade their cards?

The customization available for your favorite cards is ONLY available at TGA and with great competitive prices and the quick turnaround times are unmatched.

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It’s time to duel!

Those are the legendary words uttered by dedicated duelists who buy, sell, trade, collect and play the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game. Even now, more than 20 years after the first booster box was released in North America, Yu-Gi-Oh! remains one of the most popular trading card games in the world.

Created by legendary manga artist and game creator Kazuki Takahashi, who died unexpectedly this week, the recognizable TCG was born from the Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and turned into a popular, monster-based card game in 1999.

There are plenty of ways to get involved in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, which like many TCGs has experienced a renewed boom amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s everything you need to know.

How does the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG work?

The original Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG could be broken up into three different types of cards: monsters, spells and traps. Over the years, Konami, the publisher of the game, has introduced several different types of monster cards as the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG gameplay evolved: fusion monsters, ritual monsters, XYZ monsters, synchro monsters, and link monsters.

Let’s put it this way: If you last played the Yu-Gi-Oh TCG in 2004, the game is almost unrecognizable today. Still, the game requires airtight strategy and clairvoyant deck-building — and of course luck.

Yu-Gi-Oh! products are typically released in booster boxes, but Konami also produces structure decks, special collections and more. The Yu-Gi-Oh Original Card Game (OCG) is printed in Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese. The TCG is an adapted version of the OCG; the two versions of the game are closely related with similar artwork but have different banlists. Like the Pokémon TCG, sets released in Asian countries typically serve as a precursor for North American and European releases.

What cards should I collect?

Yu-Gi-Oh! decks are typically built using archetypes. You could have a deck built around the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon or Dark Magician — or a more contemporary theme such as Ultra Athletes, Shadoll or Branded. New Yu-Gi-Oh OCG and TCG sets typically supplement certain archetypes with new and/or reprinted cards to support their viability in gameplay.

Most of these cards hold value with OCG and TCG players who are building decks based on these archetypes. Toon Chaos, one recent Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG set provided support for archetypes such as Toon, Black Luster Solider and Code Talkers. Most new booster box releases follow this pattern.

Konami also produces special reprint sets that reintroduce classic cards, sometimes with new forms of rarity. These sets are the ones collectors drool over.

The most recent example is the TCG’s Ghosts From The Past 2: The Second Haunting, which reprinted popular archetypes such as Zombie, D/D/D and Inzektor, among others, but also printed classic cards in a special “ghost” rarity. This foil makes the card’s artwork appear invisible when shown under light. The treatment was given to classic cards such as Dark Magician Girl and Red-Eyes Black Dragon, among others.

Other cards teeming with value are versatile OCG/TCG cards that have the ability to be used in a variety of decks and devastate opponents regardless. Examples are the effect monster Ash Blossom & Joyous spring, a powerful card that can be activated from the hand and used to derail your opponents’ strategy, and the effect-negating trap Infinite Impermanence.

What cards should I grade with TGA?

Whether it’s a reprinted classic or a powerful new card, all Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG/TCG cards look incredible in TGA’s custom Yu-Gi-Oh! label. You can also customize the color of the label to match the artwork or type of card in the slab.

Inspired by Takahashi’s timeless artwork, our custom Yu-Gi-Oh! labels feature hieroglyphics positioned behind the name and set of the card while a metal chain, not unlike the one Yugi wears to hold the Millennium Puzzle, transitions the label from the details to the card of the grade. Let’s see some Immaculate 10s!

As always, determining which cards to grade is entirely up to you. Did you nab a sweet pull from the latest booster box? Slab it. Just want to protect your favorite card from childhood? Slab that, too.

May the heart of the cards be with you all.

MEET CBAD

Q: What is one thing you would tell someone considering TGA to grade their cards?

The TGA product is top of the line. The customer service as well as their turnaround times all add to the experience. They really go the extra mile in handling and make it fun to collect and grade!

SOCIALS – YouTube  |  Twitch  |  Twitter

MEET RYNOT

Q: What inspired you to start collecting cards?

A: Ever since I was a kid I always enjoyed collecting stuff. I used to run around the house and gather up things I liked and then my parents would have to put them all back where they came from. Once I started opening up Pokemon cards I was hooked. I loved Pokemon and the cards almost made Pokemon feel more real to me. I still collect today, mostly Pokemon and Digimon. I have a greater appreciation for the artwork on the cards nowadays as well.

Q: What are your earliest memories opening packs?

A: My earliest memories opening packs would be Base Set Pokemon cards my parents would buy from a small comic book shop nearby my mom’s place of work. They’re still going today and I still buy most of my cards from them!

Q: What are your favorite TGA slabs so far?

A: My favourite TGA slabs that I currently own are hands down my Japanese Pokemon slabs. I have the Mega Charizard Y Poncho Pikachu Promo, as well as multiple Japanese Evolutions Holo Rares!

Q: What is one thing you would tell someone considering TGA to grade their cards?

A: I would tell them that they will be incredibly satisfied with the end product. The slabs are top quality and being able to choose your own label really sets TGA apart from other companies. I would also let them know that they can seal away any of their cards by authenticating them if they are just looking for a nice way to display them without having them graded.

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My name is Richard Morin. I’m a lifelong collector of trading cards, but when it came to getting them graded I was clueless.

I first began collecting cards when the first Yu-Gi-Oh! products hit the American market. I loved playing the trading card game and continued to stockpile cards as a kid. I still have my first edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon and first edition Dark Magician from the original starter decks.

As an adult, I also started collecting Pokemon cards to add to my collection. As a collector, I was aware of the graded-card market but had no idea where to start.

I knew I wanted my most valuable cards to be graded. I wasn’t necessarily looking to sell them, but rather to display them and preserve them.

That’s when I started doing research on different grading companies. There were the big guys that everyone knows, but the price points were out of my budget.

The idea of handing over my valuable cards to a complete stranger was also very frightening.

Through an acquaintance, I heard about The Grading Authority. They were a very new company at the time and had graded less than 5,000 cards by that point. Still, I was intrigued for a number of reasons.

First of all, the price was reasonable. I could get my favorite cards graded without breaking the bank. Then I saw the customizable labels. I was sold at that point.

For me personally, aesthetics are very important. The label design and free ability to customize colors to match the card was something I never even thought was possible in the grading process. As a collector who only wanted something awesome to display, I knew I had found my company.

I took the plunge and sent in my Pokemon cards. About a month later, I had my submission back in-hand. TGA made the process so easy and approachable; it was not the intimidating transaction I had expected.

I was so happy with the process that I sent in my vintage Yu-Gi-Oh! cards as soon as TGA launched their new perfect-fit, customizable Yu-Gi-Oh! labels.

As a New England resident, I’ve even had the opportunity to meet and get to know the staff at TGA and have submitted more than a half dozen orders with them. Their passion for card grading and desire to transform the industry for the better is palpable.
I did all of this realizing a TGA graded card doesn’t necessarily carry the same monetary value as the same card graded by some other companies — at least not yet. I wanted to do business with a company that claims to be for collectors, by collectors. That’s exactly what TGA is, and that’s exactly the kind of community they’re building.

It’s the kind of community I want to be a part of.

Should you upgrade your TGA slab to a holo label or stick with the standard finish?

First off, what is a holo label? These are special labels printed on a holographic material to give your slab extra pizazz. When viewed in light, these labels will show similar properties to the shine of a holographic card that may be inside!

Holo labels take the presentation of your slab to an entirely new level. But should you upgrade?
The answer depends on your submission. The aesthetic value of the slab can skyrocket when a holo label is paired with certain types of cards, but there are other label finishes that could better suit your card.

Let’s use Pokémon as an example. Most full-art cards look incredible with a holo label because the label acts as a continuation of the holographic effect given off by the entirety of the card. Even cards with holographic foil only in the middle of the card — or reverse-holo cards where the card’s artwork is the only part not holographic — pair nicely with a holo label.

Vintage and non-holographic cards, however, may be better suited to our standard, classic label finish. Holo labels can be eye-catching and in some cases may draw one’s focus from the card itself. Our motto at TGA is “for collectors, by collectors.” This is why we put so much thought and effort into the presentation of our product. We want our slabs and labels to enhance the presentation of your card however you see fit.

Holo labels are just as customizable as the standard finish. You can still customize the color and artwork overlay (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, Dragonball, Star Wars, Magic, etc.) based on your submission.

These upgraded labels cost just $5 per card. Create a TGA account today and consider joining our Royalty Club for exclusive perks and rewards, some of which include complimentary holo label upgrades!

Most of the time, upgrading to a holo label will take the presentation of your card into another stratosphere. But if you’re submitting a vintage and/or non-holographic card, it might be worth taking a moment to ask yourself which label finish best enhances the presentation of your card.

The Grading Authority is continuing to change the game.

What you’re looking at right now is the new and improved TGA experience. From a transparent and easy-to-use submission process to up-to-the-minute updates on your cards, we hope to take the intimidation out of card grading.

Here are some things new and returning members of our community can expect with these sweeping website updates.

Account Privileges

It literally pays to have an account with TGA. By creating a free account on our website, you automatically become eligible to receive rewards and redeem updates that save you money and yield sweet privileges while submitting your cards for grading.

Essentially, becoming a member of Team TGA comes with free benefits. For more information on everything you can expect from these rewards, check out our separate post on gamification (more info on that coming soon). Join our community today!

Real-time Tracking Updates

Another benefit of owning a TGA account will be real-time tracking updates on your orders. From the second your submission is received to the moment it’s packed securely and sent back to you, you can feel comfortable watching your cards go through each step of the process.

Instead of simply being told your card is in the “grading” process, we’ll now take you along for the ride through each step of what it takes to properly grade your card — research, labeling, slabbing, etc.

The aim here is to provide you with an unprecedented level of comfort. We understand your cards hold incalculable emotional value in addition to potentially significant monetary value. You can feel better knowing where your cards are at with TGA.

Population Report

Longtime members of Team TGA have been clamoring for the return of our population report, and it’s back!

Search through our extensive database of TGA slabbed cards to your heart’s content. What was the first Charizard ever graded by TGA? What about the first Immaculate 10? Sort and search using a number of different filters to find an answer to any curiosity!

Streamlined Submission Form and Flexible Payments

Submitting your cards to be graded has never been easier. We know the idea of sending off your precious collectibles can be intimidating, but our goal is to make the process as simple and user-friendly as possible.

Our form lets you choose your TCG or card genre, set category and specific card title right from our dropdown menus. From there, take advantage of our industry-leading customization options to personalize your cards. You can upgrade to a holographic label and even add a peel-to-reveal sticker to enhance your experience. You can also choose your service level right from the submission form.

Once you’ve added your submitted cards to the cart, take a look at our website’s new “Shop” feature to throw in some mystery packs, slab stands and select TGA merchandise.

In addition to the new submission form, TGA has introduced a new way to pay, called Afterpay. You can now break up your total submission with interest free payments. Take advantage of the savings now while having a flexible payment option. It can’t get any easier to submit with TGA!

We are collectors here at TGA, so we know how frustrating and confusing this process can be. That’s why we’re fixing it. We hope new and returning members of our community will see our improved submission process as fun and accessible for everyone.

Let’s grade!

MEET DOOLEY NOTED

Q: What inspired you to start collecting cards?

A: I love collecting and organizing cards. There’s something very satisfying about pulling a card you’ve been hunting for a long time, adding it to your collection and then being able to see all these cards together.

Q: What are your earliest memories opening packs?

A: I remember I used to receive an allowance from my parents when I was 9 for doing all my chores every week. I’d save up that allowance to get new packs whenever I could. Jungle and Fossil packs, mainly. I would sit with my friends at a picnic table in a nearby park to play the TCG and see who had built the better deck. I pulled Sabrina’s Alakazam from Gym Challenge and built a whole deck around it.

Q: What are your favorite TGA slabs so far?

A: I have the alternate art Umbreon V from Evolving Skies in the black slab. It looks perfect and it’s a card I hunted for so long.

Q: What is one thing you would tell someone considering TGA to grade their cards?

A: I’d tell them TGA is affordable, timely and you can put your own custom flare on your sealed cards. Being affordable, it means you can slab and save cards that mean a lot to you — not necessarily ones that are worth a fortune. Your favorites can be protected.