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COMCA Condition Guide

Last updated: 9 July 2026

1. Purpose of This Guide

This Condition Guide explains how COMCA applies preliminary condition labels (including “Near Mint or Better”) during intake and cataloguing. These labels help standardise listings and improve marketplace consistency, but they are:

  • not grading
  • not authentication
  • not professional evaluation
  • not guarantees of condition

Condition labels are visual assessments only, based on COMCA’s internal intake guide.

2. What COMCA Looks For During Intake

COMCA performs a basic visual inspection of each item to identify major, clearly visible defects, including:

  • Major creases
  • Bends or warping
  • Tears or rips
  • Surface scratches visible without magnification
  • Significant corner damage
  • Significant edge wear
  • Obvious stains or residue

This inspection is non-technical, non-professional, and intended solely for cataloguing and marketplace display.

COMCA does not evaluate:

  • Centering
  • Print quality
  • Microscopic defects
  • Surface gloss
  • Edge sharpness
  • Factory imperfections
  • Any grading criteria used by PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, or other grading companies

COMCA is not a grading company and does not provide grading services.

3. Condition Labels Used by COMCA

COMCA uses two parallel systems:

A. Operational Intake Labels (Marketplace Display)

These are the labels COMCA actually uses on listings:

  • Near Mint or Better (default)
  • Excellent
  • Good
  • Fair / Poor

These labels are simple, safe, and non-grading.

B. Internal Reference Guide (Full Grading-Style Scale)

This is not used on listings. It is not shown to buyers. It is not grading. It is only an internal visual reference for COMCA staff.

Grade 10: Gem Mint (GEM-MT)

A nearly perfect card with high eye appeal. Wax stains nonexistent. Razor-sharp corners. Centering approx. 55/45 to 60/40 or better.

Grade 9: Mint (MINT)

Superb condition with one minor flaw. May show slight print dot, minor off-centering (60/40 to 65/35), or tiny white speck.

Grade 8: Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT)

Pack-fresh appearance with minor flaws. May show slight wax staining, tiny printing defect, or fractional fraying.

Grade 7: Near Mint (NM)

Clean card with slight surface wear. Minor edge wear or faint scratch acceptable. Centering 70/30 or better.

Grade 6: Excellent-Mint (EX-MT)

Visible wear under close inspection. Surface scratches, minor lint, slight corner rounding.

Grade 5: Excellent (EX)

Minor rounding clearly visible. Obvious surface wear. May have minor hairline crease.

Grade 4: Very Good-Excellent (VG-EX)

Handled but not abused. Moderate corner rounding, light scuffing, minor creasing.

Grade 3: Very Good (VG)

Significant wear visible. Rounded corners, scuffs, scratches, light creases, staining.

Grade 2: Good (GOOD)

Heavily handled. No gloss. Severe creases, soft corners, minor writing/pinholes.

Grade 1.5: Fair (FR) / Grade 1: Poor (PR)

Major structural damage. Severe creasing, heavy stains, tears, missing pieces, extensive writing.

4. Important Limitations (Legal Protection)

4.1 Not Grading

COMCA’s condition labels are not grading, not authentication, and not professional evaluation. They do not follow PSA/BGS/CGC/SGC standards and must not be interpreted as such.

4.2 Not Guaranteed

Condition labels are preliminary, subjective, and non-binding. They are not guarantees of condition or value.

4.3 Not Used for Liability

Condition labels are not used for insurance, valuation, or liability. Liability is governed solely by Declared Value.

4.4 Sellers Remain Responsible

Even if sellers cannot modify condition labels, sellers remain responsible for ensuring items submitted to COMCA are accurately represented and free from undisclosed defects.

4.5 Buyers Must Rely on Photos

Buyers must rely on listing photos and their own judgment. COMCA’s condition labels are not grading outcomes and should not be relied upon as such.

5. Why COMCA Uses Condition Labels

COMCA applies condition labels to:

  • standardise listings
  • support automated workflows
  • improve marketplace browsing
  • maintain cataloguing consistency

They are not intended to determine value or guarantee quality.

6. Marketplace Display Rules

COMCA may display condition labels on:

  • marketplace listings
  • vault inventory pages
  • CSV uploads
  • automated listing templates

Where COMCA auto-fills condition fields:

Condition applied by COMCA (including “Near Mint or Better”) is a preliminary visual assessment only and not equivalent to grading.

7. Intake Evidence

COMCA may record:

  • intake photos
  • scans
  • cataloguing notes

These records support internal accuracy but do not constitute a professional condition report.

This Condition Guide is provided for general reference only. It is not grading criteria, not a professional standard, and not a guarantee of condition. COMCA’s assessments are preliminary visual impressions used solely for operational convenience. Actual condition may vary, and buyers must rely on photos and their own judgment. Nothing in this guide creates warranties, guarantees, or representations about the condition of any item.