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Chapter 42

Set-Specific Problems: Pokémon Edition

Different Pokémon sets have different grading risks.

Vintage Pokémon (WotC)

Typical issues:

heavy holo scratches

print lines

corner whitening

off-centering

silvering on edges

Modern Pokémon

textured cards hide scratches but show print lines

rainbow rares scratch easily

foil full-arts show pressure dents

centering varies greatly by print run

Premium Sets (Celebrations, Crown Zenith, 151)

Often better quality, but:

holo surface scratching is still common

corners can soften in ETBs

Knowing what each set suffers from = better grading picks.