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Plastic DogThe earliest that PSA will slab? OK, suppose you collected racing cards. The earliest AJ Foyt is a 1962 Marhoefer's Meats card. It is roughly the size of an exhibit, but is much thicker (similar to the Topps Supers of late 60s/early 70s). So noone will slab it. Does that mean that some later 1970s issue is Foyt's rookie? Absurd. What about strip cards? Since PSA won't slab them, does that mean they don't count as cards, even if someone's true rookie?
But PSA would slab an Alpha Photo if you could ever pry one loose from the owner. I know him, and it would probably take a Baltimore News Ruth to obtain an Alpha (not his true rookie, if you go by the strict major league definition, as he was with the minor league Orioles on that issue).
Here's something else to consider: SGC won't slab most cabinets - not just because of size but because they weren't issued as part of a set. But I bet they would slab an Alpha. Not sure about PSA - they are pretty behind the curve as far as knowledge goes, so my guess is they will slab it if it's not hand-cut and will fit in their holders.
p.s. Anyone could have had the entire lot of Alphas for $3000 back at the Copeland auction; noone met the reserve and Lipset purchased the entire group post-auction.