[paul]

This question was inspired by the thread about altering cards to get high grades. But I thought it was different enough to deserve its own thread.

The first card shown in the other thread is a PSA9 1963 Topps King. Even in altered form, it still has a diagonal scratch on his elbow and a small white scuff or snow in the same area. Putting aside the alteration, should this have gotten a 9? I don't collect ultra-high grade stuff, so I don't really know. But I always assumed a 9 would not have surface damage like this.