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PSA 1 is PSA’s lowest numerical grade and is labeled Poor. PSA describes a card whose defects have advanced until most eye appeal is gone. It may have one or two small missing pieces, a major crease that nearly breaks through the stock, extreme discoloration or dirt, noticeable warping, or another destructive defect.
PSA 1 means Poor, the bottom of PSA’s numerical card scale. It covers cards with advanced, destructive defects and very little remaining eye appeal. One or two small missing pieces can be allowed, but PSA can issue a different designation when damage, alteration, authenticity, size, or factory-cut issues prevent a numerical grade.
These are observable examples from PSA’s published definition, not a required flaw checklist or a guaranteed grade formula. PSA evaluates the physical card as a whole.
Source: PSA’s published grading standards.
PSA’s PSA 1 definition does not publish a numeric centering tolerance. A factory miscut can receive PSA’s N8 No Grade result rather than a numeric grade.
Advanced wear can be severe, and PSA’s definition allows one or two small missing pieces. The card still must qualify for a numerical grade after physical review.
A major crease may nearly break through every layer of the card stock, and other destructive damage may be present.
Extreme discoloration, dirtiness, or noticeable warping may make the issue or content difficult to identify on the front or back.
PSA 2 is the next whole-number grade and retains more eye appeal despite significant flaws; PSA 1 represents more advanced damage.
PSA 1 is the lowest numerical card grade. Review the full PSA grading scale for numerical grades and separate designation guidance.
Check centering with the free centering tool, review current PSA grading costs, or look up an existing certification record with the PSA cert lookup guide.
A PSA 1 can have market value, but the grade alone does not create a premium or justify grading. Compare recent completed sales for the exact card in PSA 1 and raw condition, then subtract grading, shipping, insurance, and selling costs. Rarity, authenticity, completeness, eye appeal, demand, and provenance can all matter. A PSA grade is not an appraisal or a resale guarantee.
PSA 1 does not mean worthless. The exact card’s rarity, authenticity, demand, completeness, and recent sales determine market value.
PSA 1 is the lowest numerical grade, but “Authentic,” “Authentic Altered,” and PSA No Grade codes are different outcomes rather than grades below 1.
An extreme factory miscut is not automatically acceptable at PSA 1. PSA lists Miscut as the N8 No Grade reason.
PSA 1 is PSA’s lowest numerical grade and is labeled Poor. PSA describes defects so advanced that most eye appeal is gone. The card may have one or two small missing pieces, a major crease that nearly breaks through the stock, extreme discoloration or dirt, noticeable warping, or another destructive defect.
A PSA 1 can show severe creasing, extreme dirt or discoloration, warping, destructive wear, or one or two small missing pieces. The issue or card content may be difficult to identify on either side. PSA still decides whether the physical card qualifies for a numerical grade.
It can be. A PSA 1 label does not set the price. Compare recent completed sales for the exact card, variation, qualifier, and grade, then consider rarity, authenticity, completeness, provenance, eye appeal, and demand.
There is no lower numerical PSA card grade. “Authentic,” “Authentic Altered,” and No Grade outcomes are separate designations, not grades below PSA 1. PSA publishes specific No Grade reasons for issues such as trimming, restoration, recoloration, altered stock, cleaning, and factory miscuts.
Yes. PSA’s published PSA 1 definition says one or two small pieces may be missing. More extensive loss or another issue can lead to a different designation, and PSA makes that decision after inspecting the physical card.
Compare recent raw and PSA 1 completed sales for the exact card, then subtract grading, shipping, insurance, and selling costs. Authentication or preservation may justify grading for some scarce or frequently counterfeited cards, but there is no universal value threshold.
Use an AI pre-screen to organize your inspection before a professional submission. It does not determine or guarantee PSA’s final in-hand grade, authenticate a card, or guarantee market value.