Grading Older Cards

[irv]

Originally Posted by Fred

I think the whole idea is to grade all cards the same, regardless of what era they are from. Grading consistently will contribute to low populations of the better condition older/vintage cards, as it should be.

What this does is create the market we are seeing where people feel they have to have the best and will pay dearly for it. In many cases this seems to have increased the value of the lesser condition cards because of the money people will spend on the harder to find better condition cards. Maybe I'm off here.

I agree.

Originally Posted by 3arod13

Thanks! I just don't get it. For cards in the early 1900's to survive so long, you just have to grade them differently. I've seen some 2 and 3's that really looked nice, and I couldn't figure out why they weren't a 5 or 6.

When you search and find older cards that are in fact in mint shape, you realize they have to grade lesser cards accordingly.

Look up mint Mantles, Clements, etc etc etc. Some of those cards, surprisingly, look like they just came out of the wrapper.