A Scarlet Letter

[orly57]

Most collectors that I know, including myself for the most part, cringe at the thought of buying a card slabbed with the scarlet letter “A.” However, some cards in A holders are not altered. For one reason or another they were given an “authentic” grade rather than a numeric grade. But I find that those cards are just as stained by the A as their far more egregious altered counterparts. I think perhaps it would be wise for TPG’s to change “authentic” to maybe a “G” for “genuine” and leave the “A” for cards that have been altered. Curious about everyone’s thoughts on that.

[conor912]

It's not a bad idea. I still think it would go a long way for TPGs to explain exactly why they gave a card an A instead of shrouding it in mystery. Not only would it give buyers more info to go on, but it would help educate as well.

[vintagetoppsguy]

I would like to see:

AA - Authentic Altered
AU - Authentic Unaltered

[JollyElm]

I just got this one back from the group sub. There's no explanation, it just simply states "AUTHENTIC," which is read by anyone who sees it as "ALTERED"...even though it isn't.

1965mantle350psa.jpg

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I would like to see:

AA - Authentic Altered
AU - Authentic Unaltered

This is a great idea. I am one who will not touch a card with an A, unless the card must be an A (like t206 brown old mill or t215 pirate). I would think otherwise if it had an AU.

[griffon512]

i like the idea as well. if implemented i think the tpg's would generate additional revenues -- not much, but some -- so they should be incentivized to do it.

as an aside, some will speculate that they can get a questionably altered card regraded with a numerical grade so i don't feel it as much of a scarlet letter as it once was.

[calvindog]

I've cracked out two very obviously good PSA cards in A holders and sent them in for numbered SGC grades. PSA doesn't do much of a job in explaining what they're doing with these cards.