Topps released a special set of Desert Shield trading cards to commemorate the events surrounding Operation Desert Shield. The set was produced in 1991 and was aimed at capturing the significance of the operation.
Most still-sealed packs of this product are considered fake. Before CT scanning the only way to authenticate them would be for a professional to open the wrapping to confirm the shield, seen below, was present. Now, we can non-destructively confirm the presence of the shield.
CT SCANNING & PRE-GRADING POKEMON 1ST EDITION BASE SET PACKS
CT SCANNING POKEMON 1ST EDITION BASE SET PACK
Not only can we scan and identify the contents of vintage Pokemon packs, like this Charizard within a 1st Edition Charizard Art Pack, but we can evaluate and pre-grade the card’s conditions including centering and corner roundness.
This first edition sealed Charizard’s upper right corner is not round like the upper left corner and would not grade as a 10. Per Beckett’s grading standards, “the corners of a trading card are one of the most critical factors in determining the card’s grade. The card should be free of dings, creases, bends, or discoloration. Cards with these flaws will receive a lower grade.”