Introduction
A grade on a label answers one question: overall condition, summarised as a number. A grading report answers the next questions serious collectors always ask: which categories drove that number, what imperfections were observed, and how those observations connect to the final score.
Imperium includes a detailed report with every graded card at no additional cost. Reports remain under active improvement, but the intent is fixed: complete transparency into how your card earned its grade.
What a report typically contains
Subgrades
Subgrades break the overall result into measurable areas, commonly aligned to centering, corners, edges, and surface. They help you see strengths and weaknesses at a glance.
Why this matters: two cards can share the same overall grade for different reasons—one might have perfect centering with light edge wear, another with mint corners but be slightly off-centre. Subgrades capture that distinction and allow you to see where the card dropped points.
Defect call-outs
Defect call-outs name what was seen under controlled grading conditions: for example, print lines, whitening, indentations, or factory variance. The goal is not to shame the card—it is to document reality so collectors, buyers, and sellers have access to the same facts.
Rationale and summary
The rationale connects subgrades and defects into a clear, unified explanation for the final grade. We believe in transparency, which is why our graders provide a detailed breakdown for every report. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have a complete and confident understanding of exactly why your card received its grade.
Why our Imperium reports matter for collectors
Transparency
You are not left guessing whether “near mint” means the same thing to you as to another enthusiast.
Resale confidence
A documented history allows serious buyers to make fair, side-by-side comparisons. When a card’s story is clearly defined, it eliminates guesswork and builds the trust necessary for high-value transactions.
Learning
Over time, reports train your eye. You start to pre-screen raw cards more accurately before you submit.
If something on the report is unclear, customer support exists to clarify any of the processes.
Conclusion
A label tells you where a card sits on a scale. An Imperium report explains how it got there. That combination is what makes an Imperium slab a durable, tradable story.
Every Imperium graded card ships with that story included: subgrades, defect call-outs, and rationale, as standard.
Every Imperium graded card includes a report at no extra cost. Read our card grading UK guide to see where reports fit in the full submission process, or submit your cards.
