value

Condition and Grading of Cards

It is necessary that some sort of card grading standard be used so that the buyer and seller may come to an informed agreement on the value of a card. Seven different collectible conditions are used in this guide. The standard grading system for religious cards is adapted from the one used by postcard collectors in the publications, Barr's Post Card News and Post Card Collector. This adapted grading system for religious cards is:

M - Mint.

NM - Near Mint. Like mint but very light aging or very slight discoloration from being in an album or book for many years. Not as fresh looking. Lace cards with lace entirely intact.

EX - Excellent. In fine condition, like mint in appearance with no bends or creases or rounded or blunt corners. May have writing on the back side. A clean fresh card on the picture side. Lace cards with very minor loss to the die cut lace that is not readily apparent or does not detract from the aesthetics of the card.

VG - Very Good. Corners may be just a bit blunt or rounded. Almost undetectable crease or bend that does not detract from overall appearance on picture side. May have writing on the back side. Lace cards with slight noticeable loss of lace. A very collectible card.

G - Good. Corners may be noticeably blunt or rounded with noticeable slight bends or creases. May have writing on the back side. Lace cards with noticeable loss of lace. Less than VG.

FR - Fair. Card image is intact. Excess soil, stained, heavy creases, writing may affect picture. Lace cards with considerable loss of lace. Could be a scarce card difficult to find in any condition.

P - Poor. Very poor condition as above and may have corners torn or corners missing, etc. Lace cards with lace removed. Least desirable of all above.

Current Price/Value Guide for Religious Cards

What are religious cards worth? That's a difficult question to answer since religious card values are extremely variable in this infancy stage as a collectible category. Post cards and trade cards are probably the nearest relatives of religious cards. Most trade cards are available for between 50 cents and $12. The bulk of Post cards sell for between $2 and $15. Exceptional cards go for over $1,000. Religious cards do not yet have the history of collecting or the broad interest that post cards or trade cards have with collectors. So it is reasonable to expect lower prices for religious cards.

Paper Collectibles: A Collectors Identification

and Value Guide,

Warman's Paper

A series of six Victorian lace bordered cards were advertised by an auction service in the summer of 1997. The cards were among some 1000 paper lots representing a full range of paper collectibles. The lace cards were described to be in fine condition and all but one had a suggested price of $8. Only one was sold at a high bid of $11. Bids on the remaining cards did not reach the auctioneer's anticipated sales prices so therefore were not sold. Despite their uniquely delicate die-cut designs these religious cards have yet to attract the same attention that other paper collectibles have. Prices from the same auction service for album cards with scripture quotes ranged from $5-10.

In an effort to help stabilize the prices of religious cards the following price guide has been developed by the author based upon top prices paid for cards through auctions services, individual dealers, antique stores and private collectors over the past five years. These are retail prices buyers could expect to pay, and likewise dealers could expect to get for individual cards.

M NM EX VG G FR

19th Century

Pre 1850, handcolored 30.00 15.00 10.00 7.00 5.00 2.00

Victorian Mechanical Stand-Up 20.00 15.00 10.00 5.00 4.00 2.00

Die Cut Lithograph & Large Scrap 9.00 7.00 5.00 3.00 2.00 1.00

Die Cut Lace, Lace Surrounds Image 15.00 10.00 8.00 4.00 2.00 1.00

Die Cut Lace, Border Only 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 .50

Lace Paper, Lithograph Medallion or Scrap Applied 6.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 .50 .25

Victorian Folding or Hand Made 4.00 2.00 1.00 .50 .30 .25

Pre 1900, Plain Holy Cards 2.00 1.50 1.00 .50 .30 .20

Bible Lessons 1.00 .75 .50 .40 .30 .20

20th Century

1900-10's, all types 2.00 1.00 .75 .40 .25 .15

1920-30's 1.00 .75 .50 .30 .20 .10

1940-50's .75 .40 .35 .25 .15 .10

1960-70's .35 .30 .25 .15 .10 .05

Current .15 .10 - - - -

Laminated .50 .25 - - - -

Prices vary also according to the subject depicted, paper, quality of printing, color, size, volume of lot and rarity. There are some geographical variations in the paper market with prices usually higher on either coast.

A few features of cards markedly increase their value as collectibles. Cards in mint condition are very rare and are valuable. Provenance adds value - that is to have absolute proof that the item belonged to someone important. A full set of cards is worth more than the sum of the individual cards. (Mashburn, 1992) Rarity adds value. Cards of saints when they were beatti (during the time after beatification, yet before canonization as a saint) may be described in baseball terms as "rookie" cards and can be more valuable than more recent cards. Cards with relics, cloth touched to relics, or with medals or scapulars attached are more valuable. Victorian era cards with fancy trim or die cut lace are valuable if the paper lace is intact.

	M	NM	EX	VG	G	FR
19th Century
Pre 1850, handcolored	30.00	15.00	10.00	7.00	5.00	2.00
Victorian Mechanical Stand-Up	20.00	15.00	10.00	5.00	4.00	2.00
Die Cut Lithograph & Large Scrap	9.00	7.00	5.00	3.00	2.00	1.00
Die Cut Lace, Lace Surrounds Image	15.00	10.00	8.00	4.00	2.00	1.00
Die Cut Lace, Border Only	8.00	6.00	4.00	2.00	1.00	.50
Lace Paper, Lithograph Medallion or Scrap Applied	6.00	4.00	2.00	1.00	.50	.25
Victorian Folding or Hand Made	4.00	2.00	1.00	.50	.30	.25
Pre 1900, Plain Holy Cards	2.00	1.50	1.00	.50	.30	.20
Bible Lessons	1.00	.75	.50	.40	.30	.20
20th Century
1900-10's, all types	2.00	1.00	.75	.40	.25	.15
1920-30's	1.00	.75	.50	.30	.20	.10
1940-50's	.75	.40	.35	.25	.15	.10
1960-70's	.35	.30	.25	.15	.10	.05
Current	.15	.10	-	-	-	-
Laminated	.50	.25	-	-	-	-