Grading guides for South African collectors
How PCG grading works from South Africa, what it really costs and how to get your cards ready.
Ascended Heroes Chase Cards: Rand Prices and What to Grade
Ascended Heroes chase cards from Mega Gengar ex to Treekachu: prices in rand, how far they've fallen since launch and which are worth grading.
Phantasmal Flames: Chase Cards and What's Worth Grading
Phantasmal Flames chase cards, led by the Mega Charizard X ex SIR, with prices in rand, how far they've fallen since launch and which are worth grading.
Mega Evolution Chase Cards: Prices in Rand and What to Grade
The Mega Evolution set's chase cards, from the gold Mega Lucario ex down: prices in rand, how far they've fallen and which are worth grading from South Africa.
Pokémon TCG History: 30 Years From 1996 to 2026
Pokémon TCG history from its 1996 Japanese launch to 30th Celebration in 2026: the Wizards years, the main eras, 85 billion cards produced and grading.
Pokémon Card Artists: The Illustrators Collectors Chase
Meet the Pokémon card artists collectors chase, from Mitsuhiro Arita to Shinji Kanda, with chase card prices in rands and tips on signed cards and grading.
Pokémon Error Cards: Famous Misprints and What They Sold For
Famous Pokémon error cards and misprints, sorted into true errors, variants, first prints and test prints, with dated past sales in USD and rand.
Pokémon Card Booms Compared: 1999, 2016, 2020 and Now
Pokémon card booms of 1999, 2016 and 2020 side by side: what set them off, how supply and grading backlogs reacted, and whether 2025-26 is a fourth.
Base Set Charizard: The Story of Pokémon's Most Famous Card
Base Set Charizard explained: card facts, how to tell 1st Edition, Shadowless, Unlimited and reprints apart, values in rand and the record sales timeline.
WotC Pokémon Cards: Why 1999 to 2003 Cards Are Different
Wizards of the Coast Pokémon cards from 1999 to 2003: every WotC set, how Wizards lost the licence, what makes the cards different and what they sell for.
Delta Reign: Release Date, Chase Cards and What to Expect
Delta Reign lands 6 November 2026. Release and prerelease dates, the Mega Rayquaza ex chase cards, South African preorder prices and which pulls to grade.
Delta Reign Mega Rayquaza ex: Every Version, Priced in Rand
Every Delta Reign Mega Rayquaza ex version, from the Double Rare to the gold Mega Hyper Rare: prices in rand, how far they've fallen and which are worth grading.
Is the 30th Celebration Charizard Reprint Worth Grading?
Should you grade the 30th Celebration Charizard reprint? Raw and graded prices, rand conversions, what the 2021 reprint teaches us and PCG's centering rules.
30th Celebration Pull Rates: What One Pack Really Gets You
30th Celebration pull rates from 3,000 to 6,500 opened packs: what a pack holds, the odds per rarity, current prices in rand and which pulls are worth grading.
Does a PSA Slab Really Sell for More? Resale Value Explained
Do PSA slabs sell for more than CGC, Beckett or PCG? What the published estimates say, why they disagree, and when PSA's extra cost pays off from South Africa.
PCG vs TAG Grading for Pokémon Cards: Which Suits SA?
PCG vs TAG for Pokémon cards from South Africa: fees, turnaround, the 1000-point TAG Score, subgrades and how to submit, using each grader's own figures.
PCG vs Beckett (BGS) for Pokémon Cards: Which Suits SA?
PCG vs Beckett (BGS) for Pokémon cards from South Africa: fees, open tiers, turnaround, subgrades and Black Label 10s, using each grader's own figures.
PCG vs CGC for Pokémon Cards: Which to Use From SA?
PCG vs CGC for Pokémon cards from South Africa: fees, turnaround, top grades, subgrades and resale, using each grader's own published figures.
PCG vs PSA: What South African Collectors Should Know (2026)
PCG vs PSA from South Africa in 2026: rand costs, turnaround, resale value and grading scales, so you can pick the right grader for each card.
Choosing a Card Grading Company From South Africa (2026)
PCG, PSA, CGC, TAG and Beckett compared for South African Pokémon collectors: rand costs, turnaround, subgrades, top grades, resale and how to submit.
9 Card Grading Mistakes That Cost You a Grade or Money
Nine card grading mistakes that cost South African collectors a grade or money, from judging centering by eye to toploaders and under-declared values.
How to Check a PCG Slab's Cert and Population Report
How to look up a PCG slab's cert number on PCG's population report, what the verification report shows, and how to read the population for any card.
Grading Japanese vs English Pokémon Cards: What's Different?
Japanese vs English Pokémon cards for grading: how PCG treats each, how print quality and centering differ, what we see at Cuppas Cards, and what to check.
What Do Card Grades Mean? The 1 to 10 Scale Explained
What card grades mean from 1 to 10: what graders check, half grades, Authentic labels, and why Gem Mint means different numbers at PSA, Beckett and PCG.
How to Check Your Pokémon Card Before Grading (2026)
Pre-grade a Pokémon card at home: measure centering, check corners, edges and surface, and estimate a realistic PCG grade before you pay to grade it.
Should You Clean a Card Before Grading? What's Safe
Should you clean a Pokémon card before grading? What graders treat as alteration, what's safe to wipe off, and why sprays, pressing and trimming can cost you a grade.
How to Pack Cards for Grading: Semi-Rigids, Sleeves and Boxes
How to pack Pokémon cards for grading from South Africa: penny sleeves, semi-rigid card savers, pull-tabs, the cardboard sandwich, boxing and tracked courier.
Card Grading in Cape Town: Drop Off Cards at Our Booth
Get Pokémon cards graded in Cape Town: submit and hand your cards over at the Cuppas Cards booth at collector shows, or post them to us, for PCG grading.
Buying Graded Pokémon Slabs in South Africa: What to Check
Five checks before you buy a graded Pokémon slab in South Africa: cert lookup, label match, case condition, sold prices, and safe payment and delivery.
What Card Grading Costs From South Africa in 2026 (All-In)
The full cost of grading a Pokémon card from South Africa in 2026: grading fee, DHL share, customs, insurance and postage, with worked rand examples.
How to Get Pokémon Cards Graded in South Africa (2026 Guide)
How to get Pokémon cards graded from South Africa, step by step: choosing cards, submitting online, declaring values, packing, posting and getting slabs back.
What Is PCG? Premier Card Grading for SA Collectors
What PCG (Premier Card Grading) is, who founded it, how its 1 to 10 scale and four subgrades work, its UK tiers and labels, and how to check a PCG slab.