Posted By:
leonI know this post will go over like a turd in a wading pool but here goes anyway. Once again, the Beckett guys are friends and advertisers on the board.
I just inspected the Demmit and O'hara, in person and with a 10x loupe. I feel the O'Hara is overgraded by a 1/2 grade. I think it should be a "3.5". The 2nd crease in the lower left made that decision easy for me. That being said it doesn't have the normal tobacco staining we see on PB's so it looks really nice for what it is, and that is why I would give it a 1/2 grade bump to a 3.5, when it would be a lock 3 otherwise, imo.
The big question was on the Demmit. I am NOT a professional grader. That being said I have looked at quite a few T206's under a loupe as well as many other vintage cards. The front bottom looks suspect, at least when looking at the front. When I turned it over it wasn't as bad. They took the card OUT of the holder so they could re-inspect it and I looked at it raw with a 10x. The edges have the regular chipping....they have tobacco staining on the edges too. I also saw some little "hairs" that come off of a vintage cut. The edges are "rolled" consistently as other vintage edges are. The edges on the back of the card really showed the cut better than the front, in person. Each corner has the SAME wear under the loupe. I think the scans make them look different but in person and under a loupe you can see the wear....again, especially on the back.
Now take all of that into consideration and the fact that these are absolutely new to the hobby and from completely outside of the hobby...and all were Polar Bears and I think the decision that it is not altered is correct. After a re-inspection, outside of the holder, they feel the same way.....regards