condition

[LeftHandedDane]

Like many of the other posters, I actually prefer cards in the VGEX range (+/-). I don't care about corners, but avoid cards with creases, writing, paper loss, etc on the front (I also dont care what the back looks like). My standards go down the older the card - for example I think the 39/40 Play Balls look better with rounded corners and some yellowing!

I also prefer raw cards to slabbed, unless I am buying higher priced cards where I am worried about fakes. Even trimming does not bother me unless it is super obvious, as long as I am not getting ripped off by paying top dollar for something that has been trimmed.

Frankly, I never really could justify paying 3, 5 or even 10x as much for a highly graded card than the VGEX one, and would much rather spend the money to get more cards!

[Exhibitman]

I liquidated nearly all of my PSA 6 and better slabs and replaced them with presentable lesser cards, mostly raw.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by LeftHandedDane

Like many of the other posters, I actually prefer cards in the VGEX range (+/-). I don't care about corners, but avoid cards with creases, writing, paper loss, etc on the front (I also dont care what the back looks like). My standards go down the older the card - for example I think the 39/40 Play Balls look better with rounded corners and some yellowing!

I also prefer raw cards to slabbed, unless I am buying higher priced cards where I am worried about fakes. Even trimming does not bother me unless it is super obvious, as long as I am not getting ripped off by paying top dollar for something that has been trimmed.

Frankly, I never really could justify paying 3, 5 or even 10x as much for a highly graded card than the VGEX one, and would much rather spend the money to get more cards!

Good explanation - It comes down to personal preferences. For me (and it must be said this is mostly for stars and HOFers - I'm less picky with common cards) it is all about the eye appeal. Corner damage if not extreme normally does not bother me. I don't like cards that are badly off-centered, but minor creasing - what I used to call "spider" creases or wrinkling does not bother me either so long as it doesn't detract from the eye-appeal of the card. I have a '56 Topps Ted Williams obtained as a kid which has this type of creasing in one small place off to the side, but otherwise looks great. Out of morbid curiosity about a decade ago (and because I had some other cards I wanted to get graded to sell) I shipped it off to SGC, and it came back a 40, VG-3. When I think of all the pleasure I got out of that card as a kid - I mean it was a real museum piece next to my friends and all of their Jose Canseco rookie cards - I don't think I'd trade it for a PSA 6 today.

[JollyElm]

I'm upgrading (I should have said TRYING to upgrade) all of my sets from 1957 to 1972, so these days I am definitely looking for cards in nicer shape. But I have to address something that people keep on saying. Collecting for personal enjoyment or collecting for 'investment' are in no way mutually exclusive. You don't have to choose one approach or the other. I collect because I frickin' love it…but I also want to be sure that if I'm forced to sell off everything one day that I'll get a decent penny in return for it all. It always lingers (at least a little bit) somewhere in the back of my mind. I'm sure most collectors have the selfsame (love that word!!) mindset.

[Exhibitman]

These are the sort of cards I like to collect now:



In a moment of weakness I sent both to PSA. Wanna guess the grades?

I am also perfectly happy with lower grade cards if they are at the right price for my collecting budget and tastes. These are just fine with me and collectively I don't think I spent $100 on them:








About the only place where I tend towards high grade cards are for my 1970s cards, because that's how they looked to me out of the packs back then as a kid.

[nolemmings]

In a moment of weakness I sent both to PSA. Wanna guess the grades?

Jackson 4.5; Clemente 5

[Exhibitman]

Pretty close: Jackson 4 Clemente 6