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Todd SchultzI was the underbidder on the two or three that went the highest. There wasn't that much activity, only about 3-5 bidders on many, and only a couple of us bidding past the "book" value. Louchios won the 8s, because he always wins. It is the PSA registry--if it slabs high, it's his, and I have no problem running him up every time because he is a money machine with unlimited funds. As long as he gets to see that plastic red, white and black "8", then mission accomplished.
You are right about PSA's presentation. At least these Colgans were actually in a narrower holder than what you often find. Generally they are left to free fall within a holder designed for the modern stuff, and they rotate and spin around to see just how ugly they can look. Not only that, but PSA has no real handle on how to grade these. I will grant you that the 8s were nice--this time--but there were a couple of sevens with minor staining or discoloration. Many times the PSA 5s, of which I won 3, are as nice looking as the 7s. PSA has let miscuts slide, is inconsistent on rim wear, and pays little to no attention to centering, which is OK by me as far as the back goes, but the fronts can be noticeably off kilter.
This is one set that I truly enjoy collecting raw, mostly because there is virtually no chance of trimming or altering the cards, they are not that high dollar anyway, and the grading companies have not designed an attractive holder--apparently, the cards are too thin. In my view the cards have just as much chance of being damaged in the slabs as they do out, so the PSAs I won will be cracked out and enjoyed in good old top loaders.