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E, DanielThough I disagree on the order Bob suggests, the reasoning for a hierarchy is sound. If you believe one company has greater powers to discern condition AND authenticity, then you will happily pay a little more for the card slabbed by the inferred more knowledgable company.
My 'authentic' order (for vintage) would be:
SGC
PSA
GAI / BVG
In my estimation, SGC carry more knowledgable graders regarding vintage issues coupled with a greater likelihood that any card in doubt can get passed to a set of eyes I really trust, than do the other companies. My belief is that PSA over endow responsibility to graders who haven't much experience with vintage cards, and don't 'proof read' those graders estimations sufficiently.
Thus I would certainly be more comfortable buying a card graded SGC Authentic than PSA or GAI, albeit a smaller issue of concern for me than the varying grading standards that the companies subscribe to.
Daniel