Looking to build my first set

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

I would go with SGC if I had to choose between the 2...but for commons especially, I dont think you need to worry about fakes much. So far, for my 1959 set, I've tended to buy the high-dollar cards slabbed, in order to avoid fake cards, as you're planning. But for commons, I just don't think its worth it. The chances of getting fake 1956 commons is super low and buying EVERY card slabbed would be pricey indeed.

I absolutely agree. I just completed my first 1956 Topps set. It was mostly raw with the stars SGC graded. Take the advice quoted above. If this is your first set, go mostly raw. You'll save a lot of time and money.

That said, I am working on another '56 Topps set now, but this time it's all SGC graded NM or better. It's my all-time favorite set and that's the only reason that I'm doing it graded this time. I've sold a lot of other stuff to build it.

If you absolutely have to go graded, go SGC. As noted above, PSA cards will bring a higher resale value over SGC cards (for the most part), but when people say that, the part they leave out is that PSA will cost you more upfront.