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Posted By: Corey R. Shanus

If I'm going to spend some staggering number on a condition rarity, I sure as blazes will have a lot more peace of mind doing it knowing it came from a collection where the card was literally plucked right out of the pack. This statement is not meant to be a condemnation of the grading services. They do the best they can in detecting alterations/counterfeits. Rather, it is my respect for the prowess of skilled counterfeiters/alterers in plying their trade that I put such a premium on provenance. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me that some years down the road the characterization will be not that cards with a pedigree sell for a premium, but that cards without it sell for a discount.

edited to correct spelling error brought to my attention by B. Sloate