Slab
Slab (noun): the sealed, tamper-evident plastic holder a graded card is encapsulated in, with a label showing the grade and certification number. Also used as a verb — "slabbing" a card means getting it graded.
Slabs in More Detail
The slab does three jobs: it protects the card, it locks the graded condition in place, and its cert number lets anyone verify the card against the grader's database. Each company's slab and label look different, and label variants (like PSA's older "rookie" labels or BGS's black label) carry their own collector followings.
"Cracking" a slab — opening it to resubmit for a better grade or to send elsewhere — voids that grade entirely. It's a calculated gamble collectors make when they believe a card was undergraded.
FAQ
Can you open a slab?
Physically yes ("cracking"), but the grade no longer applies once the seal is broken — the card is raw again until regraded.
How do I verify a slab is genuine?
Look up the certification number on the grading company's website and confirm the card details match. Counterfeit slabs exist on high-value cards.
Related Resources
- Glossary: Graded Card · Gem Mint · Pop Report
- Shop: Card Supplies