Posted By:
Richard MassonIf you start deviating in grade assignments based on subjective factors, you are asking for trouble and even more inconsistency down the road. Grading services 1)verify the card hasn't been tampered with, 2)verify that it is genuine and 3)assign a grade based on objective technical criteria.
It's the collector's job to pick which cards fit in his collection. I've tossed many higher graded cards back and kept better looking, lower graded cards. I hope most of us would take a beautiful SGC 30 over an unattractive SGC 40.
Minor corner creases and flaws that can't be seen except under a microscope affect technical grading but not eye appeal. With Old Judges, eye appeal and photo clarity are what matter most, and neither fit into the technical grading criteria. Back damage and corner wear matter very little, and they are a big part of technical grading criteria. You are trying to correct a "problem" that doesn't exist.
Buy the card, not the holder.