Written by Jeremy Unruh, Founder & CEO of RarityFinder.
Grading remarks explained 2026: what common grader remarks mean, how they change value across categories, and step-by-step dispute and pricing playbooks.
Table of Contents What common grader remarks mean How much remarks reduce market value by category Which remarks are reversible or disputable How to price or list remarked items Photo, provenance, and packaging evidence that prevents remarks Estimate probability of a remark from listing photos Cross-grader mapping: PSA, CGC, BGS, PCGS When to submit an item with a known minor issue Dispute templates, grader inquiries, seller negotiation Real-world examples and worked case studies Frequently Asked Questions
Grader remarks are the little notes on a slab that change how collectors and buyers perceive a piece. Remark language like Trimmed, Restored, Conserved, Pressed, or Altered is not just academic. These tags move price, change listing copy, and determine whether you can or should submit an item for grading.
Key Takeaways Charizard PSA10 premium: a Charizard Base Set 1st Edition shows PSA10 at $334,421.05 vs ungraded $7,691.36, a 4,248%+ premium in PriceCharting data. Booster pack delta: a 1st Edition Pokémon Base Set booster shows ungraded $6,262.95 and PSA10 at $8,000.01, a 27.7% PSA10 premium over raw. High-value coin risk: an 1889-CC Morgan Dollar lists ungraded $1,115.60 and PSA10 at $187,482.13, illustrating extreme premiums if genuine, and severe value loss if remarked. Comics example: Amazing Fantasy 15 graded new values vary widely, showing how remark language and grader choice can swing realized price by tens of thousands of dollars on high-end keys. Preventable remarks: common preventable issues, like glue residue on sealed games or poor packaging that causes corner bumps, are visible in photos and avoidable with one extra packing step.
1. What exactly do the most common grader remarks mean Every grading company uses slightly different language, but the concept is the same. A remark flags an item as having a condition or treatment that affects authenticity, originality, or condition. Below I list the most common remarks you will see across PSA, CGC, BGS, and PCGS in 2026, the plain English meaning, and the immediate market implication.
Trimmed : paper or card edges have been cut or sanded to remove wear, stains, or rounded corners. Seen primarily on vintage cards and comics. That alters original dimensions and fiber, and graders tag it as Trimmed or Altered. This is a permanent devaluation trigger because originality is compromised. Restored : repairs made to hide defects, which can include color touch, tear repair, material replacement, or rebacking on comics. CGC uses "Restoration" with severity grades; PSA usually uses "Restored" or "Restoration." Restored items can still sell, but with big discounts vs original. Conserved : professional conservation aimed at stabilizing rather than rebuilding. For comics, conservation may be less punitive than restoration, but graders still note it. Conservation can be reversible at an expert level, but not usually to a point of returning to unrestored value. Surface Alteration : changes to images, printing, or coatings, often used for coins and cards where someone has removed toning or applied coatings. This is flagged because the original surface is changed and buyers treat the slab as non-original. Pressing : pressing flattens creases and diminishes surface texture on cards and comics. Pressing can improve eye appeal but is detectable under close inspection. Graders often still remark the piece as Pressed or Altered in some way. Authentic : the grader could not assign a numeric grade because the item is genuine but has an alteration or non-standard element that prevents a number. For example, CGC's "Authentic" label on comics or PSA's Authentic on cards. It means certified authenticity but no numeric condition grade. Altered : broad label for any non-original modification, including trimmed, recolored, pressed, or replaced pieces. Altered almost always meaningfully lowers market value.
Each remark has a different signal strength. Trimmed and Restored are among the strongest negative signals for paper items. For coins the term "cleaned" or "refrigerator toning removed" is functionally the same as Surface Alteration. For sealed items, graders may note "Seal Crossed" or "Tampered Seal" which signals a broken or resealed factory seal and typically crushes grade premiums.
This section's practical takeaway: treat the remark term as a short diagnosis, not a full prescription. Learn the exact grader wording for the category you collect so you can translate it into a pricing discount and a dispute path.
2. How much does each common remark typically reduce market value in different categories Remarks affect categories differently. Below I break out typical market impacts as percent adjustments, based on recent 2026 PriceCharting comps and active eBay market behavior. These are conservative working ranges, not guarantees. Use them as starting points for pricing and negotiation.
Sports cards and modern cards (PSA/BGS): Trimmed or Altered: 50% to 90% haircut vs equivalent numeric grade without remark. Pressing or minor surface alteration: 20% to 50% reduction depending on visibility. "Authentic" with no grade: often sells at 60% to 95% less than the same item with a numeric grade because buyers prefer graded numeric condition. Vintage comics (CGC): Restoration: 30% to 80% reduction depending on scope and whether CGC lists restoration type. Conserved: 15% to 40% reduction if conservator notes are minor. "Authentic" (non-gradable) copies of key issues can be valued at a fraction of unrestored numeric copies, often 10% to 40% of the price of a comparable CGC 9.8 depending on demand. Coins (PCGS/NGC etc): Cleaning or altered surfaces can reduce value by 30% to nearly 100% (for mint error vs cleaned key dates where collectors value original surfaces). A cleaned high-grade coin may lose all collector premium; dealers often price-cleaned coins at bullion or significantly lower levels. See /blog/spot-cleaned-altered-restored-coins-ebay-2026 for detection steps. Sealed video games (WATA/VGA): Resealed or tampered seals can remove graded premiums and cause huge volatility. A sealed NES game with a clean factory seal can command 10x to 100x over ungraded depending on title. If the grader notes a tampered seal, expect 70%+ reductions from the pure graded comps. Related reading: /blog/authenticate-grade-value-sealed-video-games-2026. Watches and luxury goods: Service, replaced parts, or non-original dials are the equivalent of restoration. A replaced crown or refinished dial can subtract 20% to 60% from comparable original examples. For watches, see service and pre-sale guidance at /blog/service-vintage-watch-before-selling-2026-playbook and /blog/store-insure-preserve-luxury-watches-2026.
Worked percent ranges need context. A common modern card that is trimmed might still sell to a set builder at 10% of original value, while a trimmed low-population key could trade hands privately above that because scarcity sometimes trumps condition. The PriceCharting numbers underscore this: an 1889-CC Morgan shows ungraded $1,115.60 and PSA10 at $187,482.13, so a remark on an authentic high-grade piece could reduce realized value by hundreds of thousands compared to the top-grade market if the coin is no longer considered original.
Table: illustrative market impact by remark and category. Each percent is a typical reduction range you should apply conservatively when pricing.
Remark Cards Comics Coins Sealed Games Trimmed 50% to 90% 30% to 80% N/a N/a Restored/Restoration 40% to 90% 30% to 80% 40% to 100% N/a Conserved 15% to 40% 15% to 40% 10% to 30% N/a Pressed 20% to 50% 10% to 30% N/a N/a Surface Alteration/Cleaned 20% to 70% 20% to 60% 30% to 100% N/a Authentic (no grade) 60% to 95% 60% to 95% 50% to 95% 70%+
3. Which remarks are reversible or disputable Not every remark is permanent. Some can be removed with evidence, expert third-party opinions, or regrading where the grader changes their determination. This section lists which remarks have a realistic path to removal and the common evidence required. I also cover how population context affects dispute chances; if a slab inscription is rare for that population, graders are more conservative.
Pressing: Often detectable by experienced graders, but successful re-evaluation is common if you can show pre-submission photos that prove the crease or wrinkle was improved after pressing by an accepted conservation method, or if the company mis-labeled the treatment. Evidence: high-resolution before/after images, receipts from a trusted press technician, and a timeline that shows pressing was done prior to submission. PSA and CGC accept regrade requests with photo evidence and sometimes allow removal after a review. Conserved vs Restored: The distinction matters. Conservation notes that stabilize may be less punitive, and some graders will remove or reclassify the language if you secure an independent conservator report showing minimal intervention. Evidence: conservator report, date-stamped photos, and receipts from the conservator. CGC and PCGS will consider this documentation during a re-evaluation. Surface Alteration / Cleaned coins: This is the hardest to reverse. If the grader has misidentified natural toning as cleaning, you can submit high-resolution macro photos and independent third-party numismatic lab reports that show original surfaces. For major collections, labs like PCGS or NGC will sometimes re-examine with specialized lighting. See /blog/detecting-counterfeit-coins-ebay-2026 for detection pointers. Trimmed: Rarely reversible. Trimmed claims are based on dimension differences and fiber analysis; once trimmed, original material is gone. The only path is incontrovertible locator evidence that shows the item was never altered, such as factory images, original production proofs, or certified provenance that proves the dimensions are original. In practice, trimmed is largely permanent. Authentic labels and non-gradable slabbing: Sometimes graders issue "Authentic" because of unclear evidence. If you supply better provenance, original receipts, or additional uncropped photos showing a factory seal, many companies will reconsider and assign a numeric grade.
Dispute odds improve when population reports suggest an anomaly. If the population report shows 1,000 unremarked examples and a single slab is remarked, that slab is easier to challenge with good evidence. For advice on reading population numbers and spotting anomalies, see /blog/grader-population-report-analysis.
4. How should buyers and sellers price or list items that carry a specific remark Packing a listing description with accurate, transparent language and a conservative price move gets you more serious buyers and fewer returns. Below are practical pricing rules and conservative percent adjustments by category, then a short listing template you can adapt.
Pricing rules (practical): Start with an unremarked numeric-grade comp at the same grade and subtract the lower bound of the remark reduction range from section 2, then add a liquidity buffer of 5% if the item is niche. If the item is "Authentic" with no numeric grade, price at 60% to 95% below a comparable numeric slab. For low-demand items, consider 75% to 95% discounts. For partial or reversible remarks (pressing, minor conservation), price closer to the lower end of the reduction range and note the work and receipts in the listing to attract restoration-aware buyers. Conservative percent adjustments by category: Cards: Trimmed 70% reduction; Pressed 30% reduction; Authentic/no-grade 80% reduction. Comics: Restored 50% reduction; Conserved 25% reduction; Authentic 70% reduction. Coins: Cleaned/altered 80% reduction to near-bullion in many cases; conserved minor issues 20% reduction. Sealed games: Tampered seal 70%+ reduction; minor sticker residue 20% reduction. Watches: replaced dial or hands 30% to 60% reduction depending on rarity.
Listing template you can copy and adapt. Be explicit and attach proof where possible.
Listing title: 1969 Mickey Mantle 1, CGC Authentic (trim suspected), Read full description
Description: Listed as CGC Authentic due to an apparent edge alteration. Selling as-is at a steep discount to numeric CGC 8 comps. Photos are high-resolution and include front, back, measured dimensions, and edge close-ups. No returns accepted for authenticity disputes; returns accepted for item not as described with receipt. Contact me for extra photos or population report screenshots.
Price anchoring example: if a CGC 8 of a title sells for $500, a CGC Authentic or remarked example should be listed in the $100 to $200 range depending on the remark severity. Use the percent adjustments above as a starting point and tune for demand and scarcity.
For checklist-style prep before listing, see our grading and preservation guides such as /blog/graded-comics-storage-insurance-2026 and /blog/preserve-rehouse-pokemon-collections-2026.
5. What photo, provenance, and packaging evidence most reliably prevents graders from issuing preventable remarks Many remarks come from preventable causes. You can reduce the odds of remarks by providing the grader the cleanest item possible and the right evidence. This section lists a pre-submission checklist, photo requirements, and packaging tips that measurably reduce preventable remarks like tampered seals, minor surface residues, and pack-induced corner damage.
Pre-submission checklist: Clean the item only with non-abrasive, recommended methods for the category. Do not attempt amateur restoration. For coins and high-value paper, avoid any cleaning. For cards, rehouse using a clean sleeve and semi-rigid top-loader to remove stress and avoid corner folding during shipment. For sealed games and boosters, keep original inner packaging intact, remove dust gently with compressed air, and avoid sticky tape on the factory seal. Photo evidence to include: High-resolution front and back photos with a neutral background and a centimeter ruler in frame for size verification. Macro photos of edges, corners, printing anomalies, and seals. For coins, include 5x to 10x macro photos of fields and rims. Photos of the item in the exact shipping packaging you will use, so graders see how it was protected in transit. Receipts, certificates of authenticity, original purchase invoices, and provenance emails. Attach these in a single PDF for the grader if possible. Packaging best practices: Use double-boxing for cards and comics, 2 inches of bubble wrap, and a rigid outer box. For sealed games, cushion corners heavily to prevent corner crush. Insure at declared value, and use tracked, signature-required shipping with clear chain-of-custody records.
Providing this documentation not only reduces preventable remarks, it speeds claims and increases the odds of a grader giving you the intended numeric grade. For sealed items specifically, see /blog/authenticate-grade-value-sealed-video-games-2026 for handling and authentication steps before submission. For large collections that may need vaulting to protect condition pre-submission, see /blog/collectible-vaulting-2026.
6. How can you estimate the probability of a remark from eBay listing photos before you buy Buying an item that later receives a remark is one of the quickest ways to lose money. Here is a fast triage workflow you can run in under 90 seconds on an eBay listing to estimate the probability of a remark and decide if you should buy, pass, or request additional photos.
Step 1, global quick scan (0 to 15 seconds): Zoom all photos, check corners and edges at full resolution. If you see uneven edges, shaving marks, or a white line close to the edge, assign a high trim/alteration probability and ask for measurements and edge macros. Step 2, seal and adhesive check (15 to 35 seconds): For sealed games and boosters, look for glue lines, uneven seal, or dust trapped under the seal. Any non-uniform adhesive pattern raises tamper probability sharply. Request shots of the inner seal area if unclear. Step 3, surface inspection (35 to 60 seconds): For coins, use reflections in photos to spot cleaning; too-bright or matte fields compared to known uncleaned examples suggests cleaning. For cards, reflected light that shows inconsistent gloss often means surface alteration. Use the listing's lighting as a clue; ask for oblique lighting photos if suspicious. Step 4, provenance & seller signals (60 to 90 seconds): Check seller history, returns accepted, and whether they have sold similar items without remarks. A seller who lists many graded items and accepts returns for grading disputes is lower risk. Cross-check with population report anomalies via /blog/grader-population-report-analysis for oddities.
Red flags to never ignore: measured dimensions not shown for vintage cards, crooked photography that hides edges, or seller comments like "I think it's original" rather than "unaltered." When in doubt, ask for high-res edge and corner shots and a short video of the item rotating under strong light. That often exposes subtle press marks, tape residue, or surfaced cleaning evidence graders would pick up.
7. How do remark labels differ in meaning and market impact between graders Grader language varies. The simplest way to think about it is: the same physical issue can be called different things by different companies, and buyers interpret each brand's language with its own weight. Below is a cross-grader mapping table collectors can use as a translation cheat sheet for the most common remarks.
Issue PSA (cards) CGC (comics) BGS PCGS (coins) Trimmed Trimmed / Altered Trimmed / Repaired Altered Altered / Cut Restoration Restored Restored (with degree) Restored Restored / Repaired Conservation Conserved / Conservation listed Conserved Conserved Conserved Pressed Pressing note or Altered Pressing or Trimmed if edge work Pressing (if detected) N/a Surface Alteration Surface Alteration / Coating Surface Alteration Surface Alteration Cleaned / Altered Authentic (no grade) Authentic Non-gradable Authentic Authentic Authentic
Market impact differs by brand trust in a category. For cards, PSA's "Authentic" calves more demand than BGS Authentic in some markets because PSA is the default for modern cards. For comics, CGC's restoration notes are very specific (type and extent) and collectors use those sub-notations to price more precisely. PCGS and NGC coin notes about cleaning are simply fatal for high-end surfaces. Use the mapping above when translating an eBay description or a slab photo to an expected market haircut.
8. When is it worth submitting an item that carries a known minor issue versus selling as remarked This is an EV decision you can model. My rule of thumb: submit when the expected incremental value from a successful numeric grade minus grading + risk costs outweighs the discount you can achieve selling remarked. Here are two decision thresholds and an EV example you can replicate.
Threshold 1, low-value items: If raw plus grading costs exceed 50% of the likely sold PSA9/10 comp, do not submit. Low-dollar items rarely justify graded submission because fixed fees and shipping kill ROI. Threshold 2, high-value items: If the expected sale value as a numeric grade minus grading and fees is greater than selling remarked after marketplace fees, submit. This is common for high-population high-demand items where PSA10 premiums are dramatic.
Worked example: Booster Pack 1st Edition (PriceCharting numbers). Use these verified numbers for 2026 decision math.
PriceCharting ungraded: $6,262.95. PSA10 comp: $8,000.01.
Assume total grading cost to get a PSA10 on high-value sealed pack, including insured shipping and PSA high-tier fee: $750. Be conservative. Total cost if you submit: $6,262.95 + $750 = $7,012.95. Market sale at PSA10: $8,000.01. Subtract marketplace fees (12%) = $960.00, plus shipping and insurance $50 = $1,010 total post-sale costs. Net proceeds = $8,000.01 - $1,010 = $6,990.01. Net profit/loss vs submit cost = $6,990.01 - $7,012.95 = -$22.94, roughly breakeven and slightly negative. That means submitting is marginal.
Conclusion for this case: selling as remarked or raw at a small discount to market and avoiding grading fees is likely better than submitting. If instead the PSA10 comp were $10,500, the same math flips and submission is profitable. Use the same formula with your own grading quotes and target comps.
For a different angle, Charizard shows extreme PSA10 premiums in PriceCharting. If you can verify raw authenticity and submit with a grading path that has a reasonable chance of PSA10, the expected value often favours submission even with $1,000+ fees. But that assumes top-grade probability, which you must estimate using photo triage, population context, and expert opinion.
9. What documentation and message templates work best to dispute a remark, open a grader inquiry, or negotiate a seller refund Successful disputes are evidence-driven and concise. Below are three templates: grader re-evaluation request, seller refund request, and eBay return negotiation. Use them as starting points and attach clear photos and receipts. Keep tone factual, not emotional.
Grader re-evaluation request template Subject: Re-evaluation request for slab CERTNUMBER
Hello, I submitted slab CERTNUMBER on DATE and received a remark of "Pressing". I have attached high-resolution before and after photos taken by ABC Pressing on DATE, plus a signed receipt from the press technician showing the treatment performed prior to submission. The attached conservator report states the treatment was strictly mechanical pressing with no surface alteration. Please re-open the submission for re-evaluation or provide the specific evidence you used to determine pressing so I can address the discrepancy. Thank you, NAME
Seller refund/return negotiation (post-purchase) Subject: Item received different from listing, request for return or partial refund
Hi, I purchased ITEM TITLE on DATE. The slab shows REMARK that was not disclosed in the listing photos or description. I have attached photos evidencing the remark and a copy of the grader note. I will accept a full return and refund, or a partial refund of $AMOUNT to keep the item. I prefer a return. Please advise how you want to proceed. Thanks, NAME
EBay dispute escalation message Open a case and paste the above seller negotiation text, attach photos, and state you will escalate to eBay for an Item Not As Described claim if the seller does not accept return/partial refund. Include your requested remedy and the grader's note. Keep copies of all messages.
Documentation that helps disputes: time-stamped photos, shipping chain evidence, invoices from third-party conservators, and population report screenshots showing inconsistencies. For deep dives on population signals to use in disputes, see /blog/grader-population-report-analysis.
10. Real-world examples: how the same remark changed outcomes on representative items Concrete cases stick. Below are three worked case studies drawn from 2026 market behavior and PriceCharting data where a remark changed outcomes. I include the math and the practical takeaways.
Case study A: Pokémon 1st Edition Booster Pack PriceCharting ungraded $6,262.95. PSA10 $8,000.01. Scenario: grader flags a possible reseal or tamper and marks it as Authentic without a numeric grade. Market impact: buyers tend to discount heavily for "Authentic" sealed packs because lack of numeric grade removes trust. A conservative buyer market price for an Authentic sealed pack could be 40% to 60% of PSA10, putting the realistic resale range at $3,200 to $4,800. Compared to ungraded raw $6,262.95, that is a massive realized haircut from failed grading. Takeaway: for sealed boosters of this value, pre-submission authentication and chain-of-custody documentation are essential.
Case study B: 1889-CC Morgan Dollar PriceCharting ungraded $1,115.60. PSA10 $187,482.13. Imagine a coin that appears to have original surfaces in photos but receives a cleaned remark. A cleaned remark on a high-population, high-value date can turn a potential six-figure outcome into a bullion-level sale. If an 1889-CC with a cleaning remark sells at 5% of the PSA10 comp, that would be $9,374, an enormous realized loss vs expectations. Takeaway: send coins to graders with maximum original-surface evidence and independent verification where possible. See /blog/start-collecting-rare-coins-2026 for collector-side checks.
Case study C: Vintage comic with conservation vs restored A Silver Age key with a minor tear goes to CGC and receives a Conserved note instead of Restored after a professional stabilizing treatment. Conserved copies sold at 15% to 40% discounts where fully Restored would be 50% to 80% discounted. Example math: if unrestored CGC 8.0 sells at $5,000, a Conserved copy might get $3,000 to $4,250, while a Restored copy could be $1,000 to $2,500. Takeaway: hire a respected conservator whose reports graders accept and attach the report to the submission to maximize the chance of Conservative labeling rather than Restoration.
Across these cases, the common thread is documentation and pre-submission risk control. For sealed items, check /blog/authenticate-grade-value-sealed-video-games-2026. For comics, review our modern comics grading strategy at /blog/modern-comics-grading-strategy-2010-2026 to see which conservators and submission notes reduce remark risk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Trimmed" mean on a slab and can it be reversed? Trimmed means the item's edges have been cut or sanded, altering original paper or card dimensions. It is effectively permanent and rarely reversible. To remove a trimmed remark you would need overwhelming provenance proving the dimensions were original, which is uncommon.
How much should I discount a comic marked as "Restored"? Typically 30% to 80% depending on restoration extent. CGC's restoration breakdown helps narrow the number, but assume a mid-range 50% discount for conservative pricing unless you have exact restoration receipts.
Can I dispute a "Pressing" remark and what evidence helps? Yes, if you can show pre-submission photos, receipts from a recognized pressing technician, and a clear timeline. The grader may re-evaluate with that evidence, but success is not guaranteed.
Do graders ever remove an "Authentic" label and issue a numeric grade? Yes, if the submitter provides additional provenance, original purchase documentation, or images proving originality. The grader will reopen the submission and can assign a numeric grade after re-examination.
How does a "Cleaned" remark affect coin pricing? Cleaning often destroys collector premiums and can reduce a coin's value by 30% to nearly 100% versus identical original-surface examples, particularly for key dates and high-grade pieces.
What photos should I request from a seller to spot remark risk? Ask for high-resolution edge and corner macros, oblique lighting photos, and a short rotating video. Also request dimensions and any provenance documentation the seller has. These reveal trimming, pressing, and seal issues in most cases.
Is it ever worth buying a remarked item to resubmit for regrading? Sometimes, but only when you have documentation or expert opinion suggesting the remark was issued in error, or when remediation is cheap relative to the potential upside. Run the EV math in section 8 before proceeding.
How do grader remarks differ between PSA, CGC, BGS, and PCGS? Terms vary, but the mapping in section 7 translates them. The same physical issue can be called Trimmed, Altered, Restored, or Conserved depending on the grader and category. Always translate a slab's wording into a common impact range before pricing.
What steps reduce the chance of a tamper or reseal remark on sealed games? Keep original packaging intact, avoid tape on seals, document the seal with macro photos, and prepare a clean shipping method. If possible, provide chain-of-custody or an authentication receipt to graders.
Where can I learn more about reading population reports to spot grader anomalies? See our dedicated guide at /blog/grader-population-report-analysis for how to interpret population numbers and spot slab anomalies that inform dispute strategies.
Related Reading Collectible Vaulting 2026: Vaulting vs Home Storage Collectible vaulting 2026 guide to when to move high-value cards, coins, watches and sealed sets to a professional vault, costs, insurance and taxes. Collectibles Taxes 2026: Hobby vs Business, Cost Basis & 1099-K Collectibles taxes 2026 explained: hobby vs business tests, cost basis, grading deductions, 1099-K reconciliation, international sales, and audit-ready records. Buy Arcade PCBs on eBay: ID, Test & Preserve (2026) Learn how to buy arcade PCBs on eBay: identify revisions, spot repros, test remotely, estimate market value, and preserve high-value boards in 2026. Grader Population Report Analysis How to read PSA, CGC, BGS and SGC population reports to spot slab anomalies, grading fraud, and submission opportunities with data-backed checks. 2026 Funko Pop Market Report 2026 Funko Pop market report: price drivers, where value concentrates, and exact signals to spot underpriced exclusives on eBay.
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Source: live and sold eBay Buy It Now listings and PriceCharting historical sales data, retrieved at the time of search.
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