PSA "Collections"
 

is there a special requirement for getting a specific collection name on PSA slabs? Can anyone send in 520 t206 cards and ask it be deemed the "XYZ collection"? Or, do you have to be registered on the PSA registry as a top rated collection first.

I always wondered how this works.

Thanks.

It is my understanding that PSA (and SGC) will only slab finds or collections that cannot be fluid. I wanted them to slab my t206 524 set and they would not bc it’s not retired and I could always upgrade or downgrade, which I have done. Thus, it is generally only reserved to denote provenance when facts can never anc will never change with respect to the cards slabbed

If that's the case it sounds like PSA and SGC are missing out on some extra money. I would consider a personal label for some of my cards (probably not all) depending on price. Especially on big name cards such as Wagner, Plank, Cobb(s) and variations Doyle, Magie, O'Hara, Demmitt

PSA and SGC could easily charge $5.00 per card to add the "xyz collection" to a label

But its not like PSA needs the extra workload though...

Thank you, Ryan
does this mean you have to consign the cards and have the auction house send the cards to PSA for slabbing with "XYX collection"? Otherwise, I do not understand how to guarantee a collection will not change-

I don't think that will do it. Getting a name or special label on a flip is kind of analogous to an athlete having their number retired by their team -- it is intended only for the super or highly unique/special. Not every (or any) player can just have their number retired and not every TPG customer can have their name put on the flips of their submissions.

Putting the name of the find or prior owner on the flip is intended for the super special -- a (usually deceased) pioneer collector whose collection is being redistributed to the public by sale (Burdick, Carter, etc), a crazy find where special cards are newly introduced into the hobby (Black Swamp, Lucky 7), or where the card or the prior owner is so special that designating its name/the owner's name adds prestige to the card, the TPG, and the Hobby (Charlie Sheen or naming a T206 Wagner, like the Gretzky Wagner, Connecticut Wagner, Nunn's Wagner).

While you can ask, and certainly an AH can ask on your behalf, I believe it is highly unlikely that a TPG will put the name of a garden-variety collector (like all of us on this board) on their flips. Even if we are willing to pay for it.

It might be a revenue opportunity, but I could also see it hurting card values. If the name (e.g. Lionel Carter) really means something that's one thing, but who wants to buy a card with a flip saying Joe Smith Collection? I'd pay less for that for sure if there was a choice.

I get the idea of provenance being important in rare situations. Heck, the Rosen Mantle probably should get a special notation on the flip, just so we don't all forget about it!

But outside of those rare situations, it seems a bit silly to me. The previous #1 Master Mays set did go through this process, to get all of his items labeled with the "Willie Mays Fan Club Collection". It looks like the collector was Rick Kendall. And I have seen some secondary sellers attempt to market that as a benefit, although I'm not sure that it has really been all that meaningful.

I also have no idea how Rick managed to convince PSA that it was worthy of labeling all of his items this way. But since every thread needs a card, here's one for you, with that collection label: