Where did the term “semistars” originate?

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by ALBB

yes, the price guides back in the day - CCP, and CPU , recall they used that term " semi stars"

I worked on the first 15 issues or so of CCP and the term was around well before then. I suspect, as noted above, that is originated in dealer catalogs or ads of the late 60's or 1970's. You had a five or six level of stratification by the time CCP was launched that was generally understood. Ignoring test cards and the like, it was essentially, in descending order: Superstar/HOF-Star/Semi Star/Popular or Local Player/Common, with the latter of course segregated by series.