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SGC

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation

Premium card grading known for their iconic tuxedo-style holders

Trading Cards Founded 1998 Fort Lauderdale, Florida

About SGC

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) is a respected third-party grading service founded in 1998. While smaller than PSA and BGS, SGC has carved out a strong reputation particularly in vintage sports cards and has seen significant growth in recent years across all card categories.

SGC uses a 1-10 grading scale similar to PSA. Their cards are encased in the distinctive "tuxedo" holders — black background with a white border — which many collectors consider the most visually appealing display for graded cards. The clean aesthetic makes card art pop and has become an iconic look in the hobby.

SGC is known for fast turnaround times and competitive pricing. They've historically been the preferred grading service for pre-war and vintage card collectors, though their modern card submissions have grown substantially as collectors appreciate their consistent grading standards and attractive presentation.

SGC Grading Scale

SGC uses a numeric grading scale to evaluate card condition.

Grade Label Description
10 Gem Mint (Pristine) A virtually flawless card. Perfect centering, razor-sharp corners, clean edges, and a blemish-free surface. The absolute best condition possible.
9.5 Mint+ Just shy of perfection. One extremely minor imperfection that prevents a 10. Nearly perfect in all regards with no visible flaws to the naked eye.
9 Mint Outstanding condition with one minor flaw. Could be very slight off-centering, a tiny corner touch, or the most minor surface imperfection.
8.5 Near Mint-Mint+ An excellent card that falls between Near Mint-Mint and Mint. Very minor flaws detectable under close examination.
8 Near Mint-Mint A high-quality card with only slight wear. Minor corner or edge wear, slight centering variance, but still an excellent card.
7 Near Mint A card with slight surface wear, minor corner wear, and small edge imperfections. Clearly a well-preserved card.
6 Excellent-Near Mint Light wear on corners and edges. May have minor surface scratches. Still a presentable and collectible card.
5 Excellent Moderate wear. Noticeable corner rounding, edge wear, and possible light creasing. Some gloss loss on the surface.
4 Very Good-Excellent Significant wear across all attributes. Corner rounding, moderate edge wear, and surface issues are present.
1-3 Poor to Very Good Heavy wear with potential creasing, staining, and significant corner/edge damage. Card is intact and identifiable.

What Makes SGC Unique

  • Iconic "tuxedo" black-and-white holders that showcase card art beautifully
  • Fastest turnaround times among major grading companies
  • Competitive pricing for both modern and vintage submissions
  • Strong reputation for vintage and pre-war card authentication
  • Growing acceptance and liquidity in the modern card market

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Grading Companies

PSA Professional Sports Authenticator Trading Cards
BGS Beckett Grading Services Trading Cards
TAG TAG Grading Trading Cards
All View All Graders 6 companies

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