A separate physically protected specimen that displays the grade for a collectible stored within a hard shell protective case specially adapted for storing collectibles including: comic books, printed trading cards, printed magazines, printed publications, autographs, and action figures, and toys. Providing item grade and authentication tags and security elements and associated digital records and record verification. Providing uponn request instantly available pre-determined grades for collectibles, including: trading cards, comic books, autographs, and action figures, and toys. Providing transparent and public grading standards and grading and authentication services utilizing the standards for collectibles, including: trading cards, comic books, autographs, and action figures, and toys. Providing, component grading with an overall grade and component grades for iItems with single or multiple grades. Providing grading of third party encapsulated and third party graded items, uncirculated and circulated authentication, counterfeit detection, modification detection, item completeness/incompleteness review and designation. Providing application of grades and authentication both digitally and physically to an item. Providing authentication and grading verification services.