Little poll for you pre war set builder
 

In wich grade do you build your pre war set
Low grade raw
Low grade graded card (1-2)
Mid grade (3-4-5)
High grade (6 to10)

I tend to set a budget and then try to get the nicest card I can for the cash. Most of my pre-war tends to gd-vg. My Cjs range from pr to exmt with only a couple in the former category as I try to upgrade.

For my part on my 33 Goudey, i buy only SGC 30-40 cards.
2 exception i have one Auth goose goslin with little trimmed job and i regret my buy i will upgrade in futur.
Tge second exception is a common graded 5 ...i paid ridiculous low price it is the reason why i bought it.

But normaly i only seek for graded 3 -4 cards

+1. For my T206 set, I try to shoot for nice looking SGC 20-40 examples. I'd rather have a spot of paper loss on the back and a really nice looking front than an example with multiple creases. It also depends on the card. For my favorite commons, I'll go up to SGC 60 if I can get a reasonable price. For the Cobbs and rare backs, I'll drop down in grade if I can get a nice looking front on the Cobb or a clean back on the rare backs, with some defects to the opposite side on each.

As is often said on this board, I buy the card not the grade. I have some really nice 10's and 20's that have a pencil mark or very small amount of paper loss on the back. Also with a lot of pre-war, you gotta strike when the opportunity knocks. Just picked up two W575-2s that I have not seen before. They were 10's but still presented well. I rarely find or would pay the price for the high grade cards.

I cast my vote for mid-grade, under the idea that if I ever get into collecting a more populous set that is the range I would target.

But the couple sets I'm collecting now, T209-IIs for example, I don't have the luxury of being picky about the grade. They're hard enough to find as it is and it's impossible to be condition sensitive with the set.

My original intent was mid-grade (average VG). However, I've come to the realization that in order to find the cards I need to complete the set within my budget I will need to accept lower grade. Recently I've been buying more F/G cards with nice appearance; which I'm quite happy with.

Some sets you don't have a choice. Another option for your poll should be "Whatever I can find."

I prefer raw cards and buy what I can afford. Condition is nice, but having "the" card in any condition better.

I agree with Marks take.Some sets it impossible to find cards in mid or high grade and if you do the prices are high.For my T210 set I try to go VG/EX.Even then some cards you just pick up when you see them regardless of condition.The last sentence describes collecting T209 to a T.And with N172 I only look for nice images grade isn't a factor.

Exactly, when it comes to D381's I'll be glad to take any beater card, or piece of a card for any of the ones I need.....

When I do have a choice in other cards, like with my Cracker Jack set attempt, I go for whatever fits into my budget. A presentable PSA 1 Joe Jackson fit that description. I have raw commons from poor to VG+ and graded commons from auth/poor- grade 6....

I feel people should just collect cards they like and present well within their budgets and not be too strict on themselves, especially if they're not putting a set together to re-sell.

I tend towards "all of the above".

But I have to like the card for some reason. Either a good looking card, one with some production oddity, or at a really good price. Lately with T206s I've tended towards raw cards that look like really nice 50s Some do better, some a bit worse.

My Goudeys are a really varied group, many are truly awful, but most of the 41s are solid mid grade.

Some other sets it's simply whatever I find and can afford.

Steve B

I like the VG to V/G-EX condition overall(3/4/5 is what I picked) , but will pick up lower graded cards (or raw) if they are presentable. I don't really like paper loss, trimmed cards, heavy creasing (surface wrinkles are fine if not too noticeable). I don't mind OC cards, or rounded/lightly worn corners either.I like them to look their age, but not trashed :D. Here is an example of a couple of decent looking low grade cards to me:

Sincerely, Clayton

Oops. Meant to post this one in the above post :o

Sincerely, Clayton

most of what i get is right between them. 5 or 6 mainly but always the highest grade i can find, when pricing isn't so expensive that i can't afford it.

meaning, i will take 5s and higher and will take the first one that matches that criteria. if say a 5 and 7 come up at the same time, i will take the 7 unless the 7 is way over priced.

kevin

Depends on the set...
 

For my White Borders set, I began in lower grade, settled on mid (3 to 5) for HOFers, poor to VGEX for commons, with a focus on registration, and up to VG for SLers. My focus was more on a shorter time period. Patience was something required in my work for years; now that I am pretty much retired, to hell with patience. I am upgrading at this time and looking for cards ranging 3 to 5, SGC graded. I am also spending a little more focus on backs this time around.

For my T201 set, I am focusing on SGC 80 and up. It is proving tougher to find higher graded cards but that is the fun of the hunt.

Kinda contradictory, no?