Collectible Card Grading Market Records Auction Peaks, PSA Backlog

A recent auction hosted by Fanatics Collect featured seven rare Pokémon TCG cards graded by CGC, generating $29,040 in sales. Five of the cards set new market benchmarks, most notably the CGC Pristine 10 Aquapolis Tyranitar, which sold for $11,100—more than double its prior record—and the CGC Pristine 10 Rocket’s Hitmonchan, which fetched $4,080.

At the National Sports Collectors Convention, PSA disclosed a grading backlog of roughly 12.4 million cards, a 160 percent increase in submissions from the previous year. The company halted its lowest‑cost on‑site grading tier, raising the price from $230 to $400 before suspending on‑site submissions entirely. PSA president Ryan Hoge said the surge forced the adjustments and that 99.5 percent of items submitted for on‑site grading were ultimately processed, with the firm offering reduced‑price services and free returns to affected customers.