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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

With due respect, I differ... for a lot of irrational reasons I'm strongly biased agaisnt graded cards. Oh, how I long for the day when all 38.5 million prewar cards are all finally graded, then won't the grading companies be rich, and won't the collectors lack knowledge of understanding the issues, only able to read labels on plastic...

Seriously, if you collect raw cards, study the scans of the ones you'd buy online, haggle out a return policy up front when you buy, and bid on cards from reputable folks, then you'd be ok. And you'd learn more about your hobby, instead of relying on the alledged knowledge of some grading service. So I'm all for buying raw cards. I have bought a few slabbed cards, most I bust out. You'll be much better able to understand the issues and evaluate them if you deal with them raw.

I will concede that there are many collectors adamant about collecting slabbed cards only. I'd rather spend my money on more cards, than on slabbing.

If you are going to buy raw cards, let me know, and I'll make time to look for those Old Judge articles. IF you're going for slabbed cards only it would be a waste of your time to read it.