What is the procedure for submitting cards for grading with FGS?

FGS provides you with easy access to our grading service. You are not required to join a club or pay a membership fee.
You can submit one card or a large lot of cards for grading.

Submission forms can be obtained from the following sources.

1. Downloading the submission form from our website.
2. Obtaining a submission form from our advertisements in various magazines.
3. Calling our corporate office, requesting a submission form to be mailed to you.

Please make sure that all of the information required on the submission form is complete. This includes the completion of
the grading service selected, insurance and shipping costs. Please make sure that you have properly protected and packaged your
cards. Place the ungraded card in an oversized semi-rigid cardholder such as Card Saver I or Ultimate. Place all of the cards between
two pieces of cardboard for additional protection. Then place the cards ready for submission in a box making sure there is enough
packaging material to protect the cards. Please do not submit cards in top loaders, screw down or snap holders.

Identify the method of payment for the grading service, check, money order or credit card. Please fill out completely the payment
section of the submission form. Finally ship your cards to the FGS address on the top of the submission form.
 

What cards will FGS grade?

FGS presently will grade all baseball, basketball, football, hockey, other sports, Pokemon and Magic the Gathering cards that are 1957 to present. These cards must be the standard size of 2 1/2" X 3 1/2". 1952 to 1956 Topps sized cards, old Bowman, and other sizes will be available in the near future.

FGS will grade autographed cards that are issued by major manufacturers. The manufacturers must have certified the autograph of the card. FGS does not presently certify the autograph on cards. FGS will grade minor league cards
that are the standard size of 2 1/2" X 3 1/2".
 

What is the FGS grading system?

FGS uses a very easy to understand 1 to 10 point grading standard,
with 10 being the highest grade possible.FGS provides one overall
grade per card. FGS will provide qualifications on cards that do not
meet our minimum standards.

FGS 10 GEM MINT
This card is virtually perfect. The card must have four razor sharp
square corners with no wear, in focus, no stain, and no print
imperfection. The image must be centered 60/40 or better on the
front and 75/25 on the back.

FGS 9.5 MINT +
A Mint + card at first glance looks perfect. After further inspection a very
minor defect in the card such as minor print imperfection or scratch. The
card must be centered 65/35 or better on the front and 70/30 or
better on the back.

FGS 9 MINT
A Mint FGS 9 card is in outstanding condition and has only one of
the following minor defects: a speck of wear under a 10 power
scope, a very slight stain on the reverse,a minor printing mark,
a very small barely noticeable scratch mark. The image must be
centered 65/35or better on the front and 70/30 or better on the back.

FGS 8.5 NEAR MINT/MINT +
A FGS 8.5 is a very high end card that appears mint at first glance. After further
inspection the card can have a wear defect as well as a slight imperfection in one
or two of the corners. The image must be centered 70/30 or better on the front
and 90/10 or better on the back.

FGS 8 NEAR MINT/MINT
A FGS 8 is a very high end card that appears Mint at first glance. After
further inspection the card can have the following minor defects: slight
imperfections on the corners (visible under a 10 power scope), slight
stain on the back, a minor print imperfection, very minor focus
imperfection. The image must be centered 70/30 or better on the front
and 90/10 or better on the back.

FGS 7.5 NEAR MINT +
A FGS 7.5 card is a very nice card that can have some minor defects. The image
must be centered 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

FGS 7 NEAR MINT
A FGS 7 card is a very nice card that can have several minor defects
including the following: slight fraying on the corners, slight stain on
the back, a minor print imperfection, slight surface wear, minor
focus imperfection. The image must be centered 75/25 or better on
the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

FGS 6.5 EXCELLENT/MINT +
A FGS 6.5 card is a nice card that can have defects including the following:
visible surface wear, scatch on the surface, slight fraying on the corners,
slight stain on the back, minor print imperfection, minor focus
imperfection. The image must be centered 80/20 or better
on the front and 90/10 on the back.

FGS 6 EXCELLENT/MINT
A FGS 6 card is a nice card that can have defects including the following:
visible surface wear, scatch on the surface, slight fraying on the corners,
slight stain on the back, minor print imperfection, minor focus
imperfection. The image must be centered 80/20 or better
on the front and 90/10 on the back.

FGS 5 EXCELLENT
A FGS 5 card can have the following defects: minor rounding on the
corners,surface wear, minor print defects, minor chipping, loss of
original gloss, slight wax stain on the back, minor focus imperfection.
The image must be centered 85/15 or better on the front
and 90/10 on the back.

FGS 4 VERY GOOD /EXCELLENT
A FGS 4 card can have the following defects: minor rounding on the
corners, surface wear, print defects, chipping, loss of original gloss,
minor focus imperfection, wax stain on the back, stain on the back,
surface scratch. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front
and 90/10 or better on the back.

FGS 3 VERY GOOD
A FGS 3 card shows the following defects: rounded corners, surface
wear, print defects, chipping, loss of original gloss, focus
imperfection, crease, surface scratch.Centering must be 90/10 or
better on the front and back.

FGS 2 GOOD
A FGS 2 card shows the following defects: rounded corners, surface
wear, print defects, chipping, loss of gloss, focus imperfection,
creases, surface scratches, stain on the front or back. Centering
must be 90/10 or better.

FGS 1 POOR to FAIR
A FGS 1 card shows significant wear and defects including: very
roundcorners, surface wear, print defects loss of gloss, focus
imperfection, multiple creases, multiple scratches, stains on the
front and back, small tear, missing a small piece of the card.
Centering must be 90/10 or better.



What is the cost of grading?

FGS offers the following levels of grading services:

Orders over 100 cards, call FGS for special pricing.

Who will perform the grading?

A requirement for all of our grading specialists is that they have several years in the industry. These specialists are considered industry leaders in the grading of cards. Our quality contol procedures insure that your submitted cards are safe and the grading process is consistent from card to card.

Does FGS regrade other company graded cards?

Yes.

Finest Grading Service
Post Office Box 55905
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403