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All Posts 92 Hobby News 131 Guides & How-To 92 Collecting Tips 53 Events & Recaps 30
Guides & How-To · May 6, 2026

2026 Topps Series 2 Baseball Preorder Opens May 11: 350-Card Base Set, Heavy Lumber, and Red Ink 1952 Autographs

2026 Topps Series 2 Baseball preorders open May 11, five days from today. The 350-card flagship continues numbering from Series 1, brings back Heavy Lumber and Golden Mirror Image,…

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Guides & How-To · May 5, 2026

Pokemon TCG Pocket May 2026 Calendar: Pulsing Aura Emblems Live Now, Mega Heracross ex Drop Event Coming May 12

Pocket players have a packed May. The Pulsing Aura Emblem Event runs through May 13, the Special Drop Event 2026 closes May 9, and the Mega Heracross ex Drop is the only path to B …

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Guides & How-To · May 5, 2026

PSA and CGC Both Raised Grading Fees in Q1 2026: What Submitters Need to Know Before the Next Bulk Order

PSA raised fees 5 dollars per card in February and CGC pushed prices up across every tier in January. With Collectors Holdings facing an active antitrust class action, the timing h…

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Guides & How-To · May 2, 2026

Hobby Pre-Order Week Ahead: Topps Chrome Platinum, Topps Dynasty, Series 2, and Bowman All Hit Inside Six Days

Between May 5 and May 13, Topps opens pre-orders on Chrome Platinum, Dynasty, and Series 2 baseball, and Bowman ships wide. Here is how to triage your pre-order budget across four …

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Guides & How-To · Apr 27, 2026

PSA Grading Specials End April 30: Last Three Days to Lock in Spring 2026 Submission Rates

PSA's current grading specials expire Thursday, April 30, 2026, and standard 2026 pricing is now $15 to $20 higher per card after February's tier increase. Here is the math on what…

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Guides & How-To · Apr 24, 2026

Lost Thunder Judge Spikes After Iono Rotates Out of Pokemon TCG Standard

Pokemon TCG's April 11 Standard rotation removed Iono from the format, and players have rushed to rebuild their hand disruption plans. The Lost Thunder full-art Judge is the early …

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Guides & How-To · Apr 21, 2026

PSA Now Grades 90,000 Cards Per Day Globally as Capacity Expansion Continues

PSA has confirmed it is now grading approximately 90,000 cards per day across its global facilities, with more capacity coming online in 2026. Here is what it means for submission …

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Guides & How-To · Apr 21, 2026

Card Grading Monopoly Watch: Why a Congressional Inquiry Has PSA, CGC, and SGC on Edge

A New York congressman called for a federal look at card grading market consolidation. Three months later, here is how the PSA, CGC, and SGC landscape actually breaks down and what…

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Guides & How-To · Apr 21, 2026

PSA, SGC, and Maybe Beckett: Why Collectors Holdings Has the Grading Market on Edge

Collectors Holdings already owns PSA and SGC, and now it has a pending agreement to acquire Beckett. A California antitrust lawsuit, an early-year FTC letter, and CGC's January pri…

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Guides & How-To · Apr 20, 2026

How to Spot Fake Pokémon Cards: 2026 Visual Authentication Guide

Counterfeit Pokémon cards have become disturbingly sophisticated. This 2026 guide walks through the exact visual and physical tests collectors use to separate real cards from fake…

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Guides & How-To · Apr 20, 2026

How to Spot Counterfeit Sports Cards: The Authentication Guide

Fake sports cards have gotten better and faster to produce. From 1986 Fleer Jordans to modern Caitlin Clark rookies, here is the five-category authentication process pros use to se…

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Guides & How-To · Apr 20, 2026

How to Store Trading Cards for Long-Term Value (Complete 2026 Guide)

The difference between a collection that appreciates and one that degrades is almost entirely about storage. This guide breaks down the tiered storage approach pro collectors use, …

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