Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.
The essentials
- A card is identified by its game, set, number, edition and finish.
- Condition and, for important pieces, PSA grading, BGS or CGC determine the value of a rare card.
- Pokémon cards, Magic cards, sports cards or antique playing cards: the same method, with adapted fields.
Pokémon cards, Magic cards, antique playing cards: what to keep track of
Collectable cards bring together very different audiences: players of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh!, sports card enthusiasts, and lovers of antique playing cards. They all share the same problem: thousands of cards, only a few of which have real value, and great difficulty in finding them or proving what you own.
For each important card, note the game and set, the name of the card, its number, the year, the publisher, the rarity and the finish. Add whatever makes it unique: autograph, rookie card for sports, grading. For a set of antique playing cards, describe the maker, the period, the number of cards and the condition of the box.
What a collectable card entry contains
| Field | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Game or set, card name, number in the set | Identify the card unambiguously. |
| Year, publisher | Tell apart editions and reprints. |
| Rarity | Spot the cards that deserve particular attention. |
| Finish: standard, holographic, reverse holo, full art | Two cards with the same name can have very different values depending on the finish. |
| Autograph, rookie card | Sought-after features, to be documented with photos. |
| Grading company (PSA, BGS, CGC, PCA), grade from 1 to 10 | Condition certified by a third party, recognised by buyers. |
| Grading certificate no. | Link the card to its case and check the certificate. |
| Front and back photos, invoices, valuations | Prove the condition and track the value over time. |
Sub-categories separate the major games, sports cards and antique playing cards. The names of games mentioned here are given as examples; they belong to their respective owners.
PSA grading and the value of a rare card
Grading turns a subjective opinion on condition into a grade assigned by a third party. It does not guarantee a price, but it makes insuring and selling easier. Keep on the entry the company, the grade, the certificate number and a photo of the case. For the value of a rare card, record each valuation or observed price with its date and source: prices change quickly.
Value and insurance
A binder of cards fits in a bag and is easily stolen. After a burglary, you will need to prove what it contained. The advice in our guide on proving a theft without an invoice also applies to cards: dated photos, a detailed list, grading certificates, proof of purchase.
Succession and inheritance
Heirs who do not know these games will not be able to tell a common card from a sought-after one. A list of the important cards, with their location and the name of a trusted person or shop to value them, saves them from selling everything off cheaply. Note your wishes too.
Photos from your phone and sharing
Photograph each important card front and back, flat and without glare; for a graded card, also photograph the label on the case. To offer a selection to a buyer, share it through a password-protected, time-limited link. If you also collect video games, see consoles and video games; to compare with a spreadsheet, see Excel spreadsheet or collection software.
With Collectalia
Collectalia manages collectable cards and playing cards: one entry per card or lot with game, set, name, number, year, publisher, rarity, finish, autograph, rookie card, grading company, grade and certificate number, and front and back photos taken from your phone by scanning a QR code. Import your existing Excel list, advanced search and saved searches, PDF reports and Excel exports, Succession module. Free trial.
Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.