1st graded cards ?

[Archive]

Posted By: jP

i have a question that may have already been brought up in the past. so here goes. i have seen graded cards im talking about GAI that say "1st graded" i kind of have an idea as to the meaning of this. But can someone elaborate a little more on this, what does it mean? is this a real big deal that the grading company puts on there that it is 1st graded ? and does this raise the value of the card not so much in terms of worth but is it more appealing to a collector of graded cards only, to have a 1st graded slabbed card ? hope i didnt confuse anyone and do appreciate the responses, i look forward to them and to learn a bit more about our awesome hobby!

happy collecting!

jP

my collection: http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/obaks/

[Archive]

Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)

I believe that "1st graded" indicates just that. It was the first card of that player for that set that was graded by GAI. Hold on though. I was told that it could be the first card graded at any grade. For example - there could be several different T206 Cobb Greens that are listed as "1st graded" because there could be a "1st graded" card that was graded a "1" and another "1st graded" card that was graded a "2", etc.

[Archive]

Posted By: Mike Campbell

I got quite a few of these. It only means the "first graded" for the grade received by that particular card. It means nothing to me. If it has any real meaning, someone please let me know why?

[Archive]

Posted By: anthony

i personally do not think it matters in value but maybe in personal taste...it would be nice to receive that 1st graded vintage card in an 8 or 9 and i probably would keep it if i actually received it from gai and not purchased it.

[Archive]

Posted By: jackgoodman

The Judge is correct.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Ironically, many collectors hold a bias against cards graded early in the company's existance, whether it's PSA or SGC, as they feel they were less strict early on. Though a complaint was that early vintage Beckett grades were too harsh.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

double post

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

It does indeed mean that it is the first card they graded IN EACH GRADE. So it's possible to have a 1938 Goudey Bobby Doerr GAI 1 First Graded, and a 1938 Goudey Bobby Doerr GAI 2 First Graded.

It means absolutely nothing. It is, to quote another thread, puffery.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

There's no harm in the designation (doesn't hurt anybody), but I don't know why there would be special attraction to the very first VgEx or ExMt grade of any card-- to the point that someone would pay extra money for it.

[Archive]

Posted By: jay wolt

If memory serves GAI also had another "first" something or other
listed to signify it being one of the first 25 or so graded of that card & grade.
I think they abandoned that designation awhile ago, maybe a few months into their inaugural year.

Maybe "first series" or something, does anyone else remember this? ...jay

[Archive]

Posted By: Mike Campbell

Thanks Al. I agree completely. It does no harm , or any good. Once again, it is the first card given that grade, for that particular card, not the first card of it's type graded. I "wish" it meant it was the first card of it's type graded. That would mean I have a lot of cards that are one of a kind. That would be kinda' cool. But NOT.........

[Archive]

Posted By: MikeU

A good marketing idea would be a registry of individual cards to make a complete 1st graded card run for a single card, HOF collection or a complete set. The possibilites are endless:>)

[Archive]

Posted By: RayB

Any "1st Graded" GAI cards I get are the "1st Cards to be Cracked out of their Holders"!
RayB

[Archive]

Posted By: jP

awesome responses guys! and the response was fast too. i get a better understanding now as to what it means. does anyone know when GAI 1st opened for operations ?

my collection: http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/obaks/

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

The are many numerologicists who collect. I can promise you that if GAI chonologically numbered all of their grades, someone would pay extra for for the 4th graded Brett Favre card as it matches his jersey number. Same would go for the cards of Peyton Manning, Barry Bonds and Wayne Gretzky ("I had to crack and resubmit the same Gretzky card 98 times, but it was worth it. Sweet 99th graded.")

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

When GAI opened for business PSA and SGC were already established and they needed some clever marketing gimmick to get people to notice them and that was it. At first glance a collector might say "wow, I own the first one ever graded", but at second glance will realize that it is completely meaningless.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

The best thing for business is to do the best job grading and authenticing. Over the long haul, you will get your business as you will be known to do a good job. Even if you're a small time operation, if you do a top notch job even PSA, SGC and Beckett collectors will acknowledge you as a reputable alternative and will buy your cards.

Because of their reputation, there are small time autograph dealers/collectors whose LOAs are considered as reputable as GAI or PSA. They are reputable, not because of the size of their offices or number of employees (they may work from home with no employees), but because of their knowledge and experience.

[Archive]

Posted By: Bob

David- I think from reading the posts on this board that perhaps the opposite is true. It seems that in the minds of some that GAI has become more lenient in their grading over time and thus the "first graded" cards might be graded tougher.
tbob

[Archive]

Posted By: Mike Campbell

All cards I have gotten back, are fairly graded. Not better than should be, nor worse. I see no difference in there 1st, 2nd, or 3rd's. I see no logic in applying more importance to a card, just because it is the first one of it's kind to be given a specific grade. If they are being more stringent, or less stringent, then they are not doing their job very well. A grade, is a grade, is a grade. No matter if it first last, or middle. I don't want cards that are overgraded. I want cards that are correctly graded. Because if they are overgrading mine, that means they are overgrading some elses.