[MattyC]

Bill,

Know that there are collectors out there who throw the grade out the window or at least do not let it weigh so heavily in their buying decisions, and thus buy based on eye appeal. So other people in the market do in fact ignore it, to varying degrees. (Heck, I just shattered the VCP average on a 1960 Yaz in 7 because I wanted one with no tilt, no PD on his name, and centering. Some would say, "You paid WHAT?," and yet I'm over the moon to have my dream specimen.)

So if you have beautiful cards, which you do, trust in your good eye and when or if the time ever comes to sell, also trust that there will be those who think like you who will eventually find and want the cards. If it's a 1.5 that looks that great, it will sell for a nice premium.

The grading rules like, "a pinhole or paper loss automatically knock a card down to 1," are arbitrary and not all collectors embrace those standards as their own or look at them as sacrosanct. In the end the individual controls what parts of the brain are switched on and off, so to speak, so you are in total control. I would say enjoy the cards and never let the zany grading game hang you up or hinder your enjoyment of cards and collecting.

Best,

Matt