W551 question

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Posted By: Pete Z. 

Do you know if grading companies such as SGC or GAI are sticklers when grading W551 strip cards that they meet specific size and/or shape requirements? Since they were handcut/trimmed cards in the first place do they make allowances for short cuts or uneven borders? This has probably been asked before so a reference to the thread would be appreciated.
Thanks

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Posted By: honus3415

Depends if it's a Babe Ruth or a Jess Barnes.

Sorry...late night

SERIOUSLY, here's the little help I can give you about SGC. I recently submitted (my first submission ever) six "W" cards at a show (I would never send them off to ANYONE....even before the now famous "Magie T206"). Basically, all I wanted was authenication and encapsulation at a reasonable price, and SGC was the only one with a booth (it was a 3 day show - why PSA, GAI or Beckett wasn't there is beyond me). It was my "lucky" day, they had a "Show Special" with "7-day turn-around". Well the "Show Special" that I thought I was getting turned into the "What-I-Paid-For Special" with a 25 day turn-around. But that was fine.

Now all I was really hoping for was that all these were genuine and unaltered. I thought all were legit but in light of recent events, who knows nowdays with the sophistication of today's dishonest mind. Well, four came back graded and two came back in sleeves with a checklist indicating they were "Cut Too Small" .... which I had surmised going in (it was noticable) but was hoping to have them holdered even with a "00". So, if holdering is what your #1 priority then I would suggest PSA because it would at least come back "Hand-Cut" and "Authentic" if not graded. (Packaging might not be the nicest but at least it might get slabbed).

Now, about the four that were graded. I hadn't measured any of them before hand because "grade" wasn't my main concern (they "looked" reasonable in size). They did have a degree of variance in size and shape but all had some border all the way around and some unevenness to the edges. Of these, I received 2 - "10's", 1 - "20" and 1 - "30". Interestingly the "30" had a bit of a "leaning shape".

I don't know if that helps you but this story might....

I also submitted a card from a 1920's set. Now interestingly this card was supposed to have originally been sold pre-cut in a box (large holder size card). I was submitting it with again hopes it would come back holdered and genuine, especially since it was smaller in size than the my slightly outdated source indicated. It graded and was holdered..... Now what's really interesting is that because it didn't meet the size specs I was relying on, I had previously purchased a high-graded example of this very same card by one of the top 3 companies.....to my amazement this new higher graded one was smaller yet!!!

So the moral to the story is:

If it's genuine and you want it holdered for sure, send it to PSA. If you like the aesthetics of the SGC holder give it a shot. If a high grade is your #1 priority, send it to PRO.

You might also try the SGC boards, don't know if they might be able give you the numeric values in fractions for slabable legitimacy. Don't know if one even exists, it all might just be an illusion.

My 2 cents....here's an extra penny.