Curious...when did "7" become the slab "cutoff"?

[ThoseBackPages]

Ive read it before, and seen it on auctions.

Just wondering when "PSA 7" became the "low point" cutoff for so many collectors?

I'm new to the vintage slab world and always willing to learn.

Thanks for the read,
Eric

[ChiefBenderForever]

I don't know Eric but pretty happy that it is because I keep getting sick 3.4,5,and 6 cards that look just as nice or many times much nicer for a fraction of the price. It could be the registry thing or maybe people just like the number 7 or higher. All I care about is eye appeal, a nice bright card with a pack fresh crisp image ! I have seen so many 7 and 8s that look like dog s*&^, faded, print lines, horrible centering and just don't get it but hey, thats more nice low grades for us to get !!

[hcv123]

My opinion is the 7 level for most (some exceptions- 52 topps topping the list) post war collectors seems to be the highest more "affordable" grade. I am sure given the option anyone would want the best condition possible. So possible translates into realistically afordable.

Regarding pre war and certain test and food issues I would have to say your "7" theory is out the window.

That said I agree strongly with Johhny that the one thing consistent with graded cards is their inconsistency. It is amazing to me HOW inconsistent some of the grading is. So you could certainly find lower graded cards with more incredible eye appeal than higher ones. One example - I own a 1968 3d Clemente - It is near perfect EXCEPT for a tiny pin hole (It is hard to see from the front and more easily given away on the back.) Take the pinhole away and I'd say it's an easy 7-8. PSA policy - any pinhole or staple hole and the card is a PSA 1. So I have a PSA 1 that 98% looks like a 7-8 that I bought for a fraction of the price of a 7-8. Just my 2 cents.

[JasonL]

Personally, I find that PSA 7 for post-war collecting is where I find the most consistently appealing cards at affordable pricing (relative to what happens at the PSA 8 through 10 levels).

I find the PSA 6-and-under population, in general, to have too much variability in eye appeal (and slightly less grading consistency if I had to generalize).

I find the eye appeal and card quality found in PSA 8 thru 10 to be consistently high, although (usually) not materially different enough from a PSA 7 for me to warrant the drastically increased prices.

After all, when I started collecting, there was NM and then Mint. So I find the PSA 8 to be a bit of a bastard child of the 9 and the PSA 10 to be, well, just marketing. Hence, I like 7s and 9s. Which is really weird, because my favorite number and my uniform number has always been....8

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by hcv123

My opinion is the 7 level for most (some exceptions- 52 topps topping the list) post war collectors seems to be the highest more "affordable" grade. I am sure given the option anyone would want the best condition possible. So possible translates into realistically afordable.

Regarding pre war and certain test and food issues I would have to say your "7" theory is out the window.

That said I agree strongly with Johhny that the one thing consistent with graded cards is their inconsistency. It is amazing to me HOW inconsistent some of the grading is. So you could certainly find lower graded cards with more incredible eye appeal than higher ones. One example - I own a 1968 3d Clemente - It is near perfect EXCEPT for a tiny pin hole (It is hard to see from the front and more easily given away on the back.) Take the pinhole away and I'd say it's an easy 7-8. PSA policy - any pinhole or staple hole and the card is a PSA 1. So I have a PSA 1 that 98% looks like a 7-8 that I bought for a fraction of the price of a 7-8. Just my 2 cents.

Post a pic?

[Leon]

I understand a bit about post war and agree that the NMT grades are a sweet spot...once you go to an 8 the difference in appeal isn't that great and the price goes up by mulitples most times.

For pre-war I have always said the best bang for your buck is a 6....as from there to a 7 goes up exponentially in price and there isn't a big difference in eye appeal. When I was doing the HOF rookie collecting, 7 was the number I went for, for post war.....

[wilkcards]

I'm collecting 52 topps in PSA 7+ and personally it's because 6s usually looks like crap to me. Sometimes there are nice looking psa 6 cards, but they're usually further off-center than I like. Also, if I decide to sell them there is room for profit or to at least get my money back. Too much goes to fees on a $20 card.
Also, I feel it would be too easy to get the set in PSA 6.

PSA 7, or better baby!