Can someone explain these PSA grades?

[bxb]

Originally Posted by The Cardfather

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and input.

There were no defects on the reverse of any of the cards, so I have to assume that it was a centering issue. But it doesn't make any sense. The "card" is what is within the dotted lines. Anything outside of those dotted lines should be irrelevant.

In trying to avoid the dreaded mylar sleeve, I seem to have outsmarted myself.

Don't worry Steve, I won't drink the Kool-Aid. LOL.

I have several hand cut 10s, and the common denominator is they are cut to the dotted border.

Have them professionally cut with the borders showing, and write on the PSA order a request for no mylar sleeves.

[glynparson]

Not sure why some are confused that a better cut, hand cut card, receives a higher a grade than a poorly cut one. Seems like pretty much common sense to me. What do you want the better cuts to have lower grades? If you are against number grades at all fine but to think the cut or the centering of the image shouldn't matter does not make any sense at all.

[Snapolit1]

Say you were walking home one night and discovered a new Banksy painting on a brick wall near your house. Do you think someone in the art world would say you need to cut it out of the wall and trim it as carefully as you can for it to be really valuable and considered highly “graded”. I doubt it. I think any intelligent art collector would say best not to alter it.

[Snapolit1]

Maybe it’s just me, but I actually find the whole idea that a collector needs to alter something or modify it for it to be a more desirable collectible a very interesting topic and kind of goes to the essence of the whole collecting thing. Whatever that is. It’s like people who collect hummells or anything else. The piece is what it is it but the collector thinks he is going beyond that with the presentation, accumulation etc. For many of us in this hobby the something extra is grading. You take the original and do something with it.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Say you were walking home one night and discovered a new Banksy painting on a brick wall near your house. Do you think someone in the art world would say you need to cut it out of the wall and trim it as carefully as you can for it to be really valuable and considered highly “graded”. I doubt it. I think any intelligent art collector would say best not to alter it.

They were MEANT to be cut off the box, hence the dotted lines...

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

They were MEANT to be cut off the box, hence the dotted lines...

Realize that. But why would something removed inherenty be more valuable or desirable. The one of the box uncut may be pretty perfect untouched. Would someone say a uncut sheet of Goudeys is less important than a cut stack of them?

[frankbmd]

The real value of these cards would undoubted be enhanced if one could find an unopened case of the 1975 Hostess boxes containing 12 or 24 boxes.

Imagine the enjoyment your grandchildren would derive from cutting out the cards on these boxes, not to mention the nutritional benefit they would get from consuming a case of 42 year old Twinkies.

[the 'stache]

Toss in some good ol' 1970s Topps wax pack bubble gum, and you've got a taste explosion in your mouth, Frank!

Originally Posted by frankbmd

The real value of these cards would undoubted be enhanced if one could find an unopened case of the 1975 Hostess boxes containing 12 or 24 boxes.

Imagine the enjoyment your grandchildren would derive from cutting out the cards on these boxes, not to mention the nutritional benefit they would get from consuming a case of 42 year old Twinkies.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Not sure why some are confused that a better cut, hand cut card, receives a higher a grade than a poorly cut one. Seems like pretty much common sense to me. What do you want the better cuts to have lower grades? If you are against number grades at all fine but to think the cut or the centering of the image shouldn't matter does not make any sense at all.

I find this whole discussion kind of crazy. They are hand cut cards from boxes. Who in the heck cares what they grade (obviously some do)? The grading of them is purely marketing, to me. If you don't like the way they look cut them some more until you do. (see Steve's post #9 too)

[The-Cardfather]

Originally Posted by bxb

Have them professionally cut with the borders showing, and write on the PSA order a request for no mylar sleeves.

PSA won't honor any such request (for no mylar sleeves). Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I received from their customer service manager in September of 2016.

"PSA places cards in Mylar Sleeves to preserve the grade of the card, if we feel it may shift inside the holder. We have many different types of holders but some cards don’t always fit the dimensions. We are required to do this as our company's work is based on the grading of cards and thus, the preservation of that grade within the holder. With that said, we have the right to place a card in a Mylar Sleeve if we feel it is best for the card. Furthermore, with the volume of cards we encapsulate on a daily basis, it is not feasible to check the notes left about specific instructions on Mylar Sleeve requests. That department works hard to make sure collectibles are preserved and well-maintained inside our holders per our company policy. The customer service department has attempted to meet your requests, but our sealing department has their own standards to uphold. So, with all due respect, we can no longer meet your written request of encapsulating cards without a Mylar Sleeve............due to your undesirability of the Mylar Sleeves. I apologize if this is not understandable or upsetting. It is not my intention to push our customer base away."