Thoughts on BVG (1950s - 1980s)?

[gradedeflator]

Hi,

So I know that much has been written on this topic, but just trying to gather more insight on for myself (I have many previous threads). For postwar cards, for a personal collection, I am trying to collect cards of players I like, and the label on the card matters less to me than having a really nice quality card. However, what I absolutely don't want is a card that has been altered or trimmed in any way.

Which leads to my BVG question--I know PSA has the lion's share of the postwar market, but what is popular consensus today on BVG and their quality? Does the reputation around grading sheet cut cards still exist? Was this ever common for 1950s and 1960s topps card?

For many cards I am looking for I have seen high-end BVG cards on ebay, some that are the highest graded (saw a BVG 9 1959 Topps Bob Gibson a couple months back, a 9.5 Munson rookie, etc.). Recently sold cards include a 1958 Topps Mantle BVG 8.5 ($2k) and a 1957 Topps Drysdale BVG 9 (highest graded), etc. Some of these cards look absolutely AMAZING in ebay scans and I can't really tell, from the picture, how "good" the card is.

Some BVG cards tend to undersell PSA/SGC, and I would like to know if there is something as a buyer I should know or would I just be getting a good deal? Should I be worried the card could be trimmed? or is BVG a good bet, if the card can be had for half the price of a PSA/SGC equivalent?

Again, all I can see are photos of the card front, but the card do look good--but i've heard horror stories about EOT on crossing, as well as success stories. This thread is not meant to start a bashing war on any TPG. I just would like some professional wisdom shared with me. thanks.

[VinTX]

well I certainly can't offer a PROFESSIONAL opinion, but I can put my two cents in.

You are correct in that PSA has the majority hold on the post-war vintage market in terms of grading. Behind them in my opinion is SGC and then there's some BVG stuff out there too. People are just more familiar with PSA in terms of their grading standards and when they see a card that is a PSA 7 or 8 or what not, they know what they're getting. Beckett doesn't, in my opinion, have that same level of recognition in the vintage market.

Beckett's bread and butter in terms of grading is modern era high profile rookie cards. Stuff like Jeter rookies, Arod rookies, Ichiro, Pujols etc in 9.5's and 10's are big sellers and that's kinda Beckett's "niche" if you will. IN terms of those types of cards, Beckett graded stuff will almost ALWAYS outsell comparable grade PSA cards. But in the vintage stuff, I think PSA is the way to go and I think that'll continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

[steve B]

If I read it right, I think BVG won't downgrade as much for cards produced to the standards of the era.

A 9 would still be a very nice card, but I might not expect it to cross to PSA at the same grade.

Each company is tough on different things. I wouldn't worry as much about the grade as the card itself.

Steve B

[gradedeflator]

I'm not as worried about the grade itself, or the label--just the reputation of the label. I would prefer not to have a nice looking card that was altered after it left the factory to enhance it's appearance, and I was wondering if having a case in a BVG slab should make me worried...

Especially after I read in a net54 thread that someone cut 1957, 1960, and 1962 topps baseball sheets and had them graded with a TPG that is "okay" grading trimmed cards

[steve B]

I'd be willing to bet that every grading company has graded a trimmed or sheet cut card at some time. It's nearly impossible to be perfect. The 3 primary companies are the big 3 because they get it right nearly every time.

If a card is cut from a sheet using the same sort of equipment that was used when new it would be very hard to tell. You'd have to base an opinion on aging of the exposed edge. And that's inconsistent from one card to the next. I bought a 40X magnifier recently, and have been looking at all sorts of stuff out of curiosity, including cards I know aren't trimmed because I bought them new. (Anyone else do that? get a new toy and examine practically the whole house at 40x or by blacklight or whatever?)

If they knew the cards were cut from a sheet and still graded them that's a different matter entirely.

Steve B

[Exhibitman]

Buy the card, not the slab.

[hangman62]

I have yet to look a baseball cards with it,but......
I often grab the ultra violet blue light..go in the basement..shut the lights..and look at all the places my cats pee'ed... Its all over down there..maybe I need a bigger liter box

[ls7plus]

Didn't Beckett continue to grade Star Company basketball cards of the '80's, even after it became painfully obvious that Star was continuing to pump them out well after the original printing into the 90's?

Larry

[gradedeflator]

Exhibitman,

Thanks, I totally agree on buying the card not the holder, but as i mentioned in my original post, all I can see often is a photo of the card in a holder. So my question, which may have been missed, was essentially how comfortable can I feel about a vintage card in a BVG holder? yeah it may look good, but I can't tell if it's been trimmed.

also, sheet cuts card look amazing--look at any BVG o-pee-chee hockey card that is a pristine 10--but lots of people shy away from them. sounds like you would advise someone to buy a great looking sheet cut card?