One of the things I don't like about TPG is that some people think of their favorite company as infallible.
All grading is done by people, and all people have an occasional bad day, or a slight bias, or a different idea of what matters for grade even with a written standard. SGC supposedly allows a tiny surface wrinkle up to a 70. But in practice, that sort of thing usually limits a card to a 50.
When I had some cards done at the shriners show I asked about a couple cards that I mentioned earlier. Here's one of them
It does have a tiny wrinkle in one border just about at the halfway point. I've had the card since the early-mid 80's and never saw it. Not even when I gave the cards a good look before sending them in. It also has a tiny flake of surface lost on one corner, but less missing than the corner wear I sometimes see on 50s. The rep I talked to spotted the wrinkle very quickly, and explained that the grade was a cumulative thing between whatever flaws the card has. (It's still a very nice looking card no matter the grade)
One thing I've noticed is how the more expensive/in demand a card is the impression I get is that the grading is a bit easier. How many Wagners are graded correctly? I feel it's about half, with almost all the ones in mid grades being a bit overgraded. More T206 HOF players seem a bit overgraded than commons. I have no data, but it seems that way to me, and applies to all companies.
My preference is SGC, but I wouldn't pass up a nice card at a nice price because it had the wrong holder. Usually it's the opposite - I've bought a few at flea markets that were in badly yellowed toploaders.
And just in case anyone thinks I'm just another SGC cheerleader --One of the cards I had done on-site. Another grade I think is a bit too high, but I'll go with it. The card is what it is afterall, and if I ever sell it the buyer can easily see the details.
Steve B
