Photo slabbing/authentication

[Exhibitman]

If your opinion is that all slabbing/third party authenticating sucks, this is not the thread for you. If you are not an anti-slabbing reactionary, read on.

1. I noticed in the Henry Yee auction that quite a few photos are in PSA slabs and quite a few others are loose but have PSA LOAs accompanying them. I understand why it is not possible to encapsulate an oversized item, but if the item fits in the slab is there a marketing reason to opt for an LOA rather than encapsulation?

2. Does the PSA service add value to photos on resale?

3. Is there any service other than PSA that will slab photos?

4. Anyone with experience submitting photos to PSA have any stories to share?

5. Assuming I wanted to send in photos to PSA for slabbing, does that mean I either have to join their club or send them in through an authorized dealer?

6. Does PSA slab undersized photos? If I have a 5 x 7, for example, would PSA slab it in an 8 x 10 slab with one of their infamous plastic wraps on it?

7. Anyone ever use BVG for encapsulating photos? How did that work out?

8. I have several photos that were encapsulated by CGC. All came from the same seller, J Parrino, and all were images from the Culver Archive. I really liked the product: it was flexible but about twice as thick as a card saver and could be stored in an oversized notebook because it had a three-hole notebook prepunch on the left margin [not shown below]. Anyone know the story on these? Here is an example:

[Lordstan]

Adam,
I am not an anti slabbing reactionary. I'm not a fan of the job the TPAs do with autographs, but only minor issues with the job done with photos.

To answer your questions:

1. I noticed in the Henry Yee auction that quite a few photos are in PSA slabs and quite a few others are loose but have PSA LOAs accompanying them. I understand why it is not possible to encapsulate an oversized item, but if the item fits in the slab is there a marketing reason to opt for an LOA rather than encapsulation?
I don't think either matters. Some people like the slabs some don't. I think the selling price will likely be dependent on the picture itself. I don't care for the slabs myself. I like to handle the photos when I want. BUT... being slabbed doesn't stop me from bidding aggressively on a photo I really want.

2. Does the PSA service add value to photos on resale?
Does PSA make the picture intrinsically more valuable? NO. Does it make the photos sell for more? Probably yes and no. On PSA and JSA's website, the first reason to use their service is increased value, so the increase in value is what they see as their main selling point. I'm sure those who have all their pictures certed will say that value is either preserved and/or increases. I don't think that is always the case. A "great picture" will sell for a lot of money regardless. For me, I get pics as I find them with or without certs. My bid/offer for a specific picture will not change just because it has a cert. I have never sent something in to be certed, so I don't know the process.

3. Is there any service other than PSA that will slab photos?
Beckett will. See Ben's other thread about some of the incorrect labeling. As you note later, CGC slabs photos, but I don't really know anything about their service, standards, or criteria for what is "vintage".


8. I have several photos that were encapsulated by CGC. All came from the same seller, J Parrino, and all were images from the Culver Archive. I really liked the product: it was flexible but about twice as thick as a card saver and could be stored in an oversized notebook because it had a three-hole notebook prepunch on the left margin [not shown below]. Anyone know the story on these?
I've had some of these, but never saw any hole punches. The three holes would seem to be pretty handy for binder storage.

[Augy44]

PSA will not encapsulate photos that are smaller than approximately 7" x 9" or larger than 8" x 10". This is the reason why you see loose photos with a LOA accompanying it without the encapsulation, is because they are either too large or too small to fit their holders. The reason PSA gives as to why they will not encapsulate a smaller photo is because they claim that customers have complained of smaller photos being damaged (corner and edge damage) during the shipment process due to their ability to move throughout the holder. I'm still dumbfounded as to why they don't either have different sizes of holders or somehow perforate within the holder to keep the smaller photos in place, but there must be an explanation of the reason why they haven't. Hopes this helps!

[Runscott]

I have not seen that CGC slabs add value, but I generally do not remove any photos from their slabs.

I am uncertain about PSA slabs - the prices I have paid for good photos either in PSA slabs, or not, do not seem to reflect any added value. I have only bought a few and I have never sold any of them.

(As an aside, I believe that by definition, there are zero anti-slab reactionaries on this board, but I completely understand the message you were attempting to convey).

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Runscott

(As an aside, I believe that by definition, there are zero anti-slab reactionaries on this board, but I completely understand the message you were attempting to convey).

Just didn't want an honest series of questions to degenerate into a "slabbing sucks, okay?" thread.

Two more questions

9. As I have not physically handled them: do the PSA and Beckett slabs provide better protection for photos than say an album page with an acid-free comic book or magazine board behind the picture? That is how I store mine now but for certain photos I'd be willing to go with a holder instead.

10. Is there a preference among collectors for numerical grade or "A" only on photos?

[D. Broughman]

Here is my Ty Cobb CGC photo. Yours has fine and mine has very fine with a corner missing. Does the grade have to do more with the quality of the photo image then the condition of the photo itself?

[Lordstan]

9. As I have not physically handled them: do the PSA and Beckett slabs provide better protection for photos than say an album page with an acid-free comic book or magazine board behind the picture? That is how I store mine now but for certain photos I'd be willing to go with a holder instead.

PSA holders have a plastic front and back that are similar to a large photo holder front and back, but more tight onto the photo. They are very thin, but feel fairly sturdy. The Beckett ones are bricks. They are approx a half inch thick with the photo inside an inner plastic sleeve. They are very sturdy. It took me about 15 min each to get some photos out of them. I took the pics out because they were too big and a real PITA to store. If your main goal is security, these can't be beat. Also, they do slab smaller size photos. I don't know if either use mylar in their holders, but I would think that would be the safest.


10. Is there a preference among collectors for numerical grade or "A" only on photos?

As far as I know, only Beckett grades photos in their slabs. To this point, I don't think there is any extra value associated with a numerically graded photo. That being said, do I think the TPAs will eventually try to create the same type of registry fervor for the "highest graded copy extant" of photos? Yes. If they can figure out a way to get everyone to pay to have their already slabbed photos reslabbed with a grade they will.
For myself, I couldn't care less if a grade is on the slab or not. As they say on the card side, I buy the photo not the slab.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

9. As I have not physically handled them: do the PSA and Beckett slabs provide better protection for photos than say an album page with an acid-free comic book or magazine board behind the picture? That is how I store mine now but for certain photos I'd be willing to go with a holder instead.

To me, the PSA holders appear to provide better protection than the 'album page/comic book board' set up you describe. For that reason, I leave most of my slabbed photos in their slabs, unless they are going to be framed. All but a few of my photos are non-slabbed and currently residing in top-loaders.

Any day I will be making a trip to the art store to buy mylar sleeves, and plan to put the sleeved photos back into the top-loaders. I like the idea of using comic book boards, except that I can't see the backs of the photos.