Published June 22, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

In a hobby built on hype, speed, and constant change, it’s easy to feel lost—even for longtime collectors. The jargon piles up. The acronyms blur. The excitement starts to outpace the understanding. And suddenly, what was supposed to be fun feels overwhelming.

That’s why we created the Collectors MD Hobby Dictionary—not just as a glossary of terms, but as a foundation. A tool designed to help collectors move through the hobby with confidence, clarity, and intention.

Because knowing the difference between a refractor and a superfractor, or a comp and a pop report, isn’t just about sounding educated—it’s about being empowered. It’s about understanding what you’re buying, what you’re chasing, and how to protect yourself in a space where that knowledge matters more than ever.

Whether you’re brand new to the hobby or looking to reconnect after burnout, our dictionary is here to help you reset. Learn at your own pace. Make informed choices. Understand the language so you don’t get lost in the noise.

And at the bottom of the page, you’ll find something just as important—our Collectors MD Core Terms and recovery-aligned language. These aren’t about card terms—they’re about you. Words like chasing, guilt, temptation, transparency, intention, support. They remind us that collecting doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It affects our emotions, our relationships, our finances, and our sense of self.

These terms are there to help you not just collect better, but live better while collecting.

So if you’re looking to continue your journey with more grounding, more awareness, and a little less chaos—start with language. Because when you can name what you’re experiencing, you can start to change it.

#CollectorsMD
Clarity starts with knowing what you’re really holding—on the card and in yourself.

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A living guide to the language of the hobby—built to educate, clarify, and empower collectors at every level.

This isn’t just a glossary. It’s a tool for reflection. A way to make sense of the terms, parallels, and platforms that shape our experience—so we can collect with more intention, not confusion.

Whether you’re new to the space or deep in the game, this resource was made for you. No gatekeeping. No fluff. Just real definitions that help you stay grounded in a hobby that moves fast.

Visit the link below to explore the full dictionary.
Because the more we understand, the harder it is to lose ourselves in the hype.

#CollectorsMD
Language matters. Clarity protects.

https://collectorsmd.com/hobby-dictionary/

💎 Today I tried something new for the first time — and honestly, I think it's kinda underrated. At the Sports Card Expo I kept seeing higher end vintage slabs with this little diamond sticker on them. So being curious and young I asked a few dealers, and they all said the same thing: MBA — Mike Baker Authenticated. If you’ve never heard of it, here’s the deal: Vintage is all about eye appeal. The higher eye appeal the more value it has. Just because two cards have the same grade, doesn’t mean they look the same. One might be way better centered, have sharper corners, or just have way better color. MBA, is a trusted source which says “Yeah, this card stands out within its grade.”
And if it does, they'll give it a Diamond sticker — Silver, Gold, or even Black if it’s crazy good. This sticker can actually bump up a cards value up to 5x. Mike Baker the owner of this company was actually one of PSA’s original head graders — so he's a very trusted source in the hobby. They also offer a digital service which I am trying out with my MJ PSA 5 Rookie to see if it’s Diamond-worthy… 🤞
Let’s see what happens 👀

If you’re into this kind of stuff — rare cards, eye appeal debates, hobby talk — pull up in the NEW Tropic Collects Mantel group:
👉 tropiccollects.com/mantel

Let’s talk cardboard. 🗣💬

What is Veriswap? 🔁📦

Veriswap is a free platform that lets you trade cards safely and seamlessly from your phone. 📱
It acts as a middleman, making sure both sides ship their cards and get what they agreed on.

How it works:

1. List your cards

2. Make/accept a trade offer

3. Both parties ship to Veriswap Head Quarters

4. They verify the deal, and make sure everything is how it should be.

5. Cards get sent to new owners 🚚

⚠ There are small trade + shipping fees.

Use code TROPIC for $15 in trade credit 💸

Want to learn more? Join the Tropic Collects Mantel Group to connect with other collectors, ask questions, and get smarter in the hobby. 💬🔥

Last weekend, I closed one of the biggest deals of my life at the Sports Card Expo in Toronto. 📍 The card I picked up at the show is already gone... but it helped me land something even bigger. This week, I officially traded up into a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card (PSA 5) which is one of the most iconic cards in the hobby. 🐐

Before this deal, I had a near-complete 1986 Fleer set — missing only Jordan’s base and sticker. Now I’m just one card away from completing the full set: the 1986 Jordan sticker.

If you’ve got one, DM me on Mantel — I’m ready to deal. 🤝

Not to mention to make things even better I made the trade on Veriswap, a platform where collectors can trade safely anytime, anywhere. If you haven't signed up for Veriswap yet use code TROPIC when signing up for $15 in trade credit. 💸

Not sure how Veriswap works? Stay tuned — I’ll be posting a full breakdown in my new Mantel Tropic Collects Group soon. So tell me — what would you rather have: the PSA 5 Jordan rookie or the Curry RPA /25? 👀