Collectible cards from US brands and US-based sellers

What to look for in a good collectible cards

• Check the card stock. Quality cards use a stiff, slightly textured stock with a black or dark core layer, so if you fan them and see a bright white edge all the way through, that's a sign of thin, cheap paper.
• Look at the corners. Corners on legitimate cards are cut in a tight, uniform curve, while knockoffs often show ragged or uneven corner cuts from a dull die.
• Inspect foil and holo effects. Real holographic or foil treatments have a fine, even pattern that shifts cleanly under light, whereas cheap versions use a coarse, splotchy foil that looks smeared.
• Watch the price floor. Verified US sellers in this category run about $1 to $99, so a listing priced well under that range is usually cutting corners somewhere you can't see in the photos.