PSA population report for photos - doable?

[Snapolit1]

Would be cool if PSA started a population report for photos. I realize of course (a) there is no way in the world they could have a population of all photos and (b) the "grading" so to speak, would be their 1-4 typology scheme. But seems like they could have a registry of how many unique examples of photos they have authenticated for famous baseball moments. Willie Mays WS catch. Ruth farewell shot by Fein. Gehrig 1924 spring training. Jackie leaving Ebbets Field in cool camel hair coat after first game. Maybe 400-500 others. Well known shots. If they mark these all now with some authenticating technology seems to me it wouldn't be that difficult.

Another obvious criticisms would be that many people don't authenticate every photo, and there are probably collections out there of archives yet to be discovered. But you can say that about cards too.

Maybe logistical hurdles too significant. But would be cool to have some semblance of a head for rare photos.

[perezfan]

I personally despise the idea, but most collectors seem to be mesmerized by PSA and slabbing everything in sight. I'm pretty sure that many of the finest examples of vintage photos remain unslabbed and ungraded... rendering a potential registry meaningless.

A far higher percentage of cards are professionally graded than vintage photos. I suppose the disproportionate ratio could change over time, given ever-increasing prices and the growing prevalence of flippers/investors. The other problematic factor is the sheer number of subtle variations that exist with vintage photos. They simply can't be classified and categorized nearly as definitively as cards.

So I may be in the minority, but I hate the idea of this potential money grab.

[mybestbretts]

I could almost guarentee you that right after it started those photos would be copied and sold for $4.95 on ebay.

[Lucas00]

I think it's a bad idea because of how difficult it already is to identify a photo if it is original, if it's a type 1,2,3 etc.

Thankfully the majority of people that sell photos at the moment are very knowledgeable and have hoarded many of them knowing they are very undervalued. So they have established good reputations.
If psa starts grading them you'll start seeing the big fakers come out to play.

[drcy]

I don't think it could practically be done.

Most photos are rare, unlike cards.