Saving a PSA slab image—a picture of a graded Pokémon card sealed in its holder—is useful, but it creates false security when treated as proof of authenticity. Keep it as supporting documentation, not as a substitute for checking the physical slab and seller. For PSA-graded cards, "official" usually means a SecureScan, PSA's high-resolution front-and-back image captured after grading. The term is not universal, and coverage is incomplete: PSA says SecureScans began in January 2019 for Express-or-higher submissions, while some graded items still have no image.
Table of Contents
- What does a saved scan document?
- Why is certificate matching not enough?
- What should you check on the physical slab?
- A practical record-and-verification routine
What does a saved scan document?
A SecureScan records how the card and holder appeared when psa photographed them after grading. It gives your inventory a visual reference alongside the certification number and grade. That makes the file useful for organizing a collection and documenting ownership.
PSA expressly permits SecureScans to be used for personal records and insurance purposes. However, an insurer may still require receipts, valuations, or other evidence. Save both sides at their available resolution. Use a filename containing the certification number, then store the images with your receipt and photographs of the slab you received.
Why is certificate matching not enough?
A matching scan and certification result do not prove that the slab in front of you is genuine. Criminals can copy a valid public certification number onto a counterfeit grading insert. PSA also states that Cert Verification confirms the database information associated with a number.
It does not inspect items in online listings or guarantee that a listed item is genuinely PSA-authenticated. PSA therefore recommends trustworthy sellers and cautions buyers about Craigslist, Mercari, and OfferUp. A copied listing could display genuine certification data and genuine-looking images while offering a different physical object. Treat a successful lookup as one supporting match, not a final verdict.
What should you check on the physical slab?
The card, label, and holder must agree with the official record. PSA describes its holder, label security features, and tamper-evident sealing as protections separate from public certificate images.
Compare what you can see rather than relying on the certification number alone: A low-resolution photograph may not support a meaningful comparison. If the seller cannot provide clear images or explain a material mismatch, pause the purchase.
- Match the card's artwork, printed details, orientation, and visible marks to the SecureScan.
- Confirm that the label's certification number, grade, and card description match Cert Verification.
- Examine the holder and label for unexplained irregularities or signs of interference.
- Request clear front-and-back photographs when a listing hides part of the slab.
A practical record-and-verification routine
Start with Cert Verification yourself instead of relying on a seller's screenshot. Download the available SecureScans, then compare them with the listing photographs before paying. After delivery, repeat the comparison using the slab in hand. Keep separate photographs of the received item, because those document your particular holder rather than only PSA's earlier scan.
If no SecureScan appears, remember that PSA does not image every graded item. Absence alone does not establish that a slab is counterfeit, but it leaves you with less supporting evidence and makes careful physical inspection more important. Store the official scans, your own photographs, the certification details, and the purchase receipt together. If the card, label, or holder does not match the record, stop and seek specialist evaluation before reselling or relying on the slab's stated grade.
