- Set / expansion
- A named release of cards. People use the two words for the same thing.
- Series / era
- A bigger grouping that can contain several sets. Check how it's being used.
- Card number
- The number printed on the card, like 025/165. Also called the collector number. Use it with the set to look a card up.
- Language version
- The language the card is printed in.
- Finish
- How the card's surface is treated, such as non-holo or reverse holo (also called non-foil and reverse foil).
- Rarity
- Where a card sits in a set's rarity system. It doesn't guarantee a price.
- Variant / version
- A different printing or treatment of the same card. Which details matter depends on the release.
- Promo
- A promotional card. How promos are released and numbered varies.
- Stock image
- An example picture of the card design — not necessarily the card you'd receive.
- Raw card
- A card that hasn't been graded and sealed in a case.
- Slab
- The sealed plastic case a grading company puts a graded card in.
- Asking price
- What a seller wants for the card.
- Sold price
- What someone actually paid, as recorded by the source you're using.
- Comparable sale / comp
- A sale you've picked because it's a good match for the card you're researching.
- Lot
- A bunch of items sold together. Read carefully what's included.
- Condition
- The physical state of a card, described against a standard or from what you can see.
- Population report
- A grading company's count of cards it has graded. It's not a count of every card printed or still around.
- Expansion code
- A short identifier for a release, such as MEW on English Scarlet & Violet—151 cards. Use the code with the language and full collector number.
- Regulation mark
- A letter used in Pokémon TCG play eligibility. It is separate from the expansion code and does not identify one exact card.
- Pokédex number
- The number identifying a Pokémon species. Many different cards can show the same Pokédex number; it is not the collector number.
- Double Rare
- A rarity category represented by two black stars in the English Scarlet & Violet system. Rarity keys can differ between eras and languages.
- Illustration Rare
- A rarity category represented by one gold star in the English Scarlet & Violet system. Look up the exact release rather than applying one rarity key to every card.
- Reprint
- A later printing of a card. Artwork or game text can resemble an earlier release while the set, number or other identifying details differ.
- Stamp
- An added printed logo or marking associated with a particular release. Record it when it distinguishes the version you want.
- Booster pack
- A sealed pack with randomised contents. Its wrapper artwork does not identify which individual Pokémon cards are inside.
- Booster box
- A product containing multiple booster packs. Pack counts and product formats vary, so check the exact product contents.
- Elite Trainer Box / ETB
- A boxed product combining booster packs with accessories and, for some releases, promo cards. Contents differ by release and edition.
- Preconstructed deck
- A deck with a predefined card list intended for play, rather than a random assortment of booster pulls.
- Single
- An individually selected card, as opposed to buying random booster contents or a whole collection.
- Checklist
- A list of the cards or versions included in a release or your own collection target. State what the checklist includes and excludes.
- Master set
- A collecting label whose scope varies. Define whether your target includes parallel versions, promos, stamped cards and product exclusives.
- Duplicate
- An extra copy of a card version you already have. Different languages, numbers or stamps may be separate entries rather than duplicates.
- Inventory
- A record of what you own, including the exact item, quantity and storage location. Keep this separate from your wishlist.
- Total purchase cost
- The item price plus shipping and any applicable taxes, import charges or conversion costs. Count each cost once.
- Net proceeds
- What remains from a sale after its selling costs. It is not profit until you also account for what the item cost you.
- Best Offer
- An offer a seller can accept below or otherwise separate from the displayed listing price. Confirm the recorded accepted amount before using it as a comparable sale.
- Outlier
- A result unusually high or low compared with the rest. Investigate its identity and sale context before using or excluding it.
- Median
- The middle value after numbers are put in order; for an even number of values, the average of the two middle values. It still depends on choosing relevant data.
- Grading service level
- A submission option with its own fees, declared-value limits and estimated turnaround. Check the provider's current terms before submitting.
Collector glossary
Plain-English meanings for common collecting words.