What grading adds

A slab provides third-party authentication and a locked, agreed-upon condition. That removes buyer uncertainty, which usually means a higher price and a faster sale — graded markets are simply more liquid for desirable cards.

When raw still wins

For low-value cards, the grading fee outweighs any premium. And some vintage or niche cards trade actively raw. Raw also lets a future owner attempt a higher grade themselves — optionality a slab removes.

Value each at its real identity

Because raw and graded — and each grade — price differently, value a card by its exact form. Slabline does this automatically from comparable sales, so a collection total reflects what you actually hold, not an average guess.