SGC vs PSA

[steve B]

Originally Posted by jerrys

All personal opinions - show some proof.
Here are some inconsistencies labeled SGC 40 VG 3. All in the same grade!
Paper loss damage! - extremely rounded corners - the last cobb appears to be a grade or two higher.

Attachment 126273

Attachment 126274

Attachment 126275

Attachment 126276

Attachment 126277

The same things apply to PSA as well.

I learned a bit about grading at the shriners show this year. I graded a few cards, and brought a couple to ask about. Both were ones I felt were undergraded, one a 40 the other a 50. I'd had both for a long time and didn't see why they were graded so low.
What surprised me was how quickly the rep spotted the flaws.
The 40 had nice corners, but not great, and was well centered. I figured a 50, maybe almost a 55 but not quite.
In about 30 seconds he spotted some erased writing on the back that I'd missed. Only really visible with the magnifier. Yes, I'd have been right about maybe a weak 55 except for the erasure.

The 50 was a bit off center, but with very nice corners. It looks as good as some of the ones I've had come back as 70-80. The only thing I could think of was the tiny chip of surface missing from the front of one corner. But the chip is smaller than the areas I see worn on typical 50's and some 60's.
Again, very quickly he pointed out the tiny wrinkle on one border, also not really visible without the magnifier. And he explained that the grade was a cumulative grade, so while it's a great looking card, it's got a tiny wrinkle, a fleck of paperloss, not really great centering, and is a bit off-register. Without the wrinkle it would be higher, but with all four problems only deserves a 50.


The first two cards shown I think can truly be called mistakes. especially the first one. The second looks like it would be really nice aside from the paper loss. But I still wouldn't go for VG. The LaPorte and the first Cobb are almost exactly what I think of when I see a VG grade, The last Cobb I'd bet has some small flaw that won't show on the scan.

Recently I've seen a number of VG or even VG-EX cards from both companies that have creases, which I've always though of as putting a card solidly into the G grade.


Steve B