AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a 2005 Upper Deck series football trading card featuring Sean Taylor, safety for the Washington Redskins (now Commanders). The card is a standard 2.5 by 3.5-inch rectangular format constructed of high-gloss cardstock. The action photograph depicts Taylor in his white away jersey, burgundy pants, and iconic number 36 helmet, engaging in a physical tackle against a Denver Broncos player (number 88). The design features a burgundy textured footer with the player's name 'TAYLOR' in bold white block lettering, with 'SEAN' and 'REDSKINS' in smaller supporting text. The upper right corner displays the holographic silver Upper Deck logo. The upper left corner shows a geometric burgundy pattern over a blurred stadium background. Regarding condition, the card is housed in a flexible protective plastic sleeve (penny sleeve), which appears to have some surface dust and minor scuffing. The card's corners generally appear sharp in the image, though the bottom right corner shows some slight edge softening. The centering of the image appears slightly shifted toward the right margin. There are no obvious creases or surface stains visible through the sleeve, though the glossy finish shows typical light reflective properties for the mid-2000s era. This item represents a key card for collectors of 21st-century NFL defensive stars given Taylor's legendary status and tragic passing.

I have virtually examined this 2005 Upper Deck Sean Taylor #246. The card presents in 'Near Mint' (NM 7) condition. Surface gloss is consistent with UD's 2005 production standards, and the holographic logo shows appropriate light refraction. While the corners remain relatively sharp, I observed slight softening on the bottom-right corner and a centering bias of approximately 60/40 toward the right edge. As a base veteran card from a high-print volume era, its value is driven more by player legacy than rarity. Sean Taylor remains highly collectible due to his 'Ring of Honor' status, yet market comparables for raw, ungraded copies of this specific card consistently transact in the $5 to $12 range. High-grade (PSA 10) examples can command a premium, but the centering issues noted here likely preclude a top-tier grade. Verification from images remains a preliminary assessment. A full authentication would require physical inspection to check for 'trimming' (mechanical edge alteration), surface 'pressing' to hide creases, and microscopic analysis of the rosette printing pattern to rule out modern digital reprints. To finalize this valuation for insurance or sale, I would need to examine the card out of the protective sleeve to look for surface dimples or 'spider' creases not visible through plastic.