A plain-English guide to graded cards, the grading world, and how this collection is built and held — written for anyone new to collecting and investing in cards.
Grading & Authentication
A third-party company examines the card, authenticates it, and assigns a numeric condition grade on a 1–10 scale. It’s then sealed in a tamper-evident holder with a unique certification number.
The four major ones are PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), BGS (Beckett Grading Services), SGC, and CGC. PSA is the largest and most established in the industry.
PSA-graded cards command the strongest and most liquid market, particularly for vintage and high-grade material. For a Jordan-focused collection, PSA is the recognized standard and typically sees the highest resale demand.
Cards are graded 1 through 10, from Poor to Gem Mint. Higher grades reflect better centering, corners, edges, and surface. A 10 is the top of the scale.
PSA 10 is the highest grade and the most scarce, which is where the strongest long-term demand and value concentration sits. It represents the finest condition a card can achieve.
Gem Mint (PSA 10) means the card is essentially flawless to the eye — sharp corners, clean edges, proper centering, and a clean surface.
Every graded card has a unique certification number on its label. Enter it on the grading company’s website to confirm the card, grade, and details. On this site, cert links go straight to PSA’s lookup.
Understanding the Hobby
“Pop” is short for population — the number of copies of a specific card a grading company has graded at a given grade. A low pop at PSA 10 means very few exist in that condition.
A player’s first officially licensed card. Rookie cards are typically the most sought-after and valuable cards of any player.
Inserts are special cards placed into packs at limited rates, often with unique designs. Parallels are alternate versions of a base card, usually rarer and distinguished by a different finish, color, or foil.
A Type 1 is an original photograph developed from the original negative within roughly two years of the image being taken. They’re one-of-a-kind and the most collectible category of sports photography.
Grade, scarcity (pop), the player, the era, and eye appeal all drive value. A high-grade, low-pop card of an iconic player carries the most weight.
This Collection
Jordan is the most collected athlete in the hobby, with roughly 1.7M+ cards graded — about twice the next player. His market is the deepest and most established, which suits a long-term thesis.
150+ pieces and growing, spanning graded cards, Type 1 photographs, a complete 1986 Fleer PSA 10 set, printed pieces, and Nike poster cards.
No. DimeLabs is a private showcase of the collection, not a marketplace.
Storage, Security & Investment
The collection is held in the PSA Vault in Delaware, a professional third-party storage facility.
The PSA Vault, located in Delaware, is a secure, insured storage facility operated by PSA for graded collectibles. It offers professional-grade security and climate control, keeping the cards protected and their condition preserved.
Cards are professionally stored, sealed in tamper-evident holders, and each is independently authenticated and tracked by certification number.
Graded cards have developed into a recognized alternative asset, with public sales data, price indices, and an established secondary market. Like any asset, values can rise or fall.
Public tools like the Card Ladder index track graded card values over time using recorded sales data, which lets the market be followed transparently.