PSA Magazine Grading: Taking Your Collection Beyond Cards
Trading cards aren't the only collectibles that look incredible in a PSA holder.
Magazine grading is opening up an entirely different side of the hobby, giving collectors a way to professionally authenticate, grade, protect and display magazines featuring iconic athletes, characters and moments in pop culture.
We recently received four magazines back from PSA at Vaulted Icons, and they demonstrate just how diverse magazine collecting can be.
The submission included a colourful Marvel Fantastic Four cover, a Pokémon Card Game Magazine featuring Charmander, a Mike Tyson issue of KO Magazine and a Floyd Mayweather issue of The Ring.
These aren't traditional trading cards, but that's exactly what makes this category interesting. Magazine grading allows collectors to preserve larger pieces of sports and pop-culture history in a professionally graded format.
As a PSA Dealer in Vancouver, Vaulted Icons accepts eligible magazines and other collectibles for PSA submission. You can learn more about our PSA grading and submission services or continue below to see some recent examples.
PSA 9.6 – PSA Magazine Pop Culture & TCG #16
This July 2025 PSA Magazine issue features an eye-catching Fantastic Four cover by Alex Ross and was graded PSA 9.6 with White Pages.
Covers featuring recognizable comic characters and celebrated artists can create an interesting crossover between magazine collecting, comics and traditional graded collectibles.
PSA 9.8 – Pokémon Card Game Magazine #4
One of the highlights of the return was this 2025 Korean Pokémon Card Game Magazine #4 featuring Charmander on the cover.
The magazine received an impressive PSA 9.8 with White Pages.
Pokémon is a perfect example of why magazine grading has potential within the broader collecting hobby. Pokémon collectors aren't limited to cards. Magazines, promotional material, games, toys and other pieces of Pokémon history can all become important parts of a specialized collection.
If Pokémon is your main collecting focus, you can also explore our Pokémon cards and collectibles at Vaulted Icons.
PSA 9.2 – KO Magazine Vol. 18 #13 Featuring Mike Tyson
Sports magazines represent another category we believe collectors should be paying attention to.
This December 1998 issue of KO Magazine features Mike Tyson prominently on the cover and received a PSA 9.2 with White Pages.
Magazine covers can capture an athlete at a specific moment in his or her career in a way that is very different from a trading card. For collectors of iconic athletes, that historical context can be a major part of the appeal.
PSA 9.2 – The Ring Featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Our fourth example is the April 1999 issue of The Ring, featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the publication's Fighter of the Year.
This copy also received a PSA 9.2 with White Pages.
For boxing collectors, publications such as The Ring document fighters, championships and important moments throughout the history of the sport. Professionally grading important covers creates another way to build a collection around a favourite athlete or era.
Why Are Collectors Grading Magazines?
There are several reasons magazine grading is becoming an interesting extension of the collectibles market.
Protection
Magazines can be difficult to store without creating bends, spine damage, corner wear or other condition issues. Encapsulation provides a more protective way to preserve important copies.
Authentication
Third-party grading provides collectors with an independent assessment and authentication of eligible magazines.
Presentation
Professionally graded magazines can become impressive display pieces, particularly when the cover features an iconic athlete, character or artwork.
Collectibility
Grading gives collectors another way to build focused collections around athletes, franchises, artists, characters and historic events.
PSA Now Grades Comics & Magazines
PSA's comic book and magazine grading program expands professional grading beyond traditional trading cards.
PSA currently uses a 10-point grading scale with decimal increments for comics and magazines, and eligible submissions can include professional encapsulation, Premium Imaging and Grader Notes depending on the applicable service.
Collectors interested in PSA's official eligibility requirements and current services can read more directly on the official PSA Comic Book & Magazine Grading page .
What Magazines Might Be Worth Grading?
Not every magazine needs to be graded. As with trading cards, collectors should be selective.
Some magazines that may be worth considering include:
- Important athlete covers
- Vintage sports magazines
- Pokémon and other TCG-related magazines
- Comic and superhero magazines
- First appearances or historically important issues
- Low-distribution or difficult-to-find issues
- Special or variant covers
- High-grade copies of desirable magazines
- Magazines connected to major moments in sports or pop culture
- Personally significant pieces you want to preserve
Condition, rarity, demand, grading costs and the reason you're grading the magazine should all be considered before submitting.
PSA Magazine Grading in Vancouver
Vaulted Icons provides collectors in Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland with a local option for submitting eligible magazines and collectibles to PSA.
Magazine grading is part of our broader professional collectible grading services , which include submission options for cards and other eligible collectibles.
If you have sports magazines, Pokémon magazines, pop-culture publications, comics or other collectibles you're considering grading, bring them into Vaulted Icons and talk to our team.
Grade It or Sell It?
Not sure whether an item makes sense to grade?
Sometimes professional grading is the right move. In other situations, a collector may prefer to sell or trade an item instead of investing in grading.
If you're considering moving part of your collection, visit our Sell Your Collection page to learn more about what Vaulted Icons buys.
Have a Magazine Worth Grading?
Bring your magazines and collectibles into Vaulted Icons in South Vancouver and talk to our team about your PSA grading options.
Vaulted Icons
1318 SE Marine Drive
Vancouver, BC V5X 4K4
Canada
