A Scarlet Letter

[griffon512]

i like the idea as well. if implemented i think the tpg's would generate additional revenues -- not much, but some -- so they should be incentivized to do it.

as an aside, some will speculate that they can get a questionably altered card regraded with a numerical grade so i don't feel it as much of a scarlet letter as it once was.

[calvindog]

I've cracked out two very obviously good PSA cards in A holders and sent them in for numbered SGC grades. PSA doesn't do much of a job in explaining what they're doing with these cards.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Speaking of SGC, what's up with this? It looks factory to me or at the very least should have a grade with a hand cut designation.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Speaking of SGC, what's up with this? It looks factory to me or at the very least should have a grade with a hand cut designation.

I've never seen a 49 Bowman gray variation with a numerical grade. Every one I've ever seen has been graded an A.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I've never seen a 49 Bowman gray variation with a numerical grade. Every one I've ever seen has been graded an A.

I know, but it makes no sense.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I know, but it makes no sense.

Agreed.

[Fred]

I don't shy away from the "A" grade for a card. If the card has nice appeal then the "A" grade is a great way to collect on a budget, unless the "A" just bothers you that much.

Would anybody take an "A" graded T206 Wagner for $75K if it had really nice appeal but was trimmed (not horribly trimmed - let's say it still has borders)?

What about Zeenuts (and other cards) that have the coupon removed. Those cards are "trimmed" yet the TPGs continue to grade them with numeric grades.

It would just be nice if there were some basic industry standards that the main TPGs would follow. Any card that is HAND CUT gets an "A" on the label. Come up with a basic list of "qualifier" reasons and create industry standard abbreviations (TR = trimmed, HC = hand cut, CA = color added, RE = restored, etc).

[orly57]

Bazookas are handcut, yet TPG’s give numeric grades if there is a sufficient amount of border showing. As for the Wagner example, I think every collector is willing to make an exception for an incredibly rare or special card. One of my favorite cards in my collection is labeled A, but it has a total known population of 2. I didn’t think twice about buying it and the A doesn’t bother me a bit. But for the most part, most collectors hate Authentic cards. And I think that is due in large part to the lack of clarity on the part of TPG’s regarding why it is an A. I think some of you have posted some great alternatives. I like your idea about the abbreviations Fred.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I know, but it makes no sense.

Greys are considered handcuts to most. I know Ted states he pulled them and I have no reason to disbelieve that for baseball but the prevailing belief is that they were cut from factory seconds sheets like all basketball. No basketball grey should have a number, I have never seen a factory cut.

[steve B]

It does if there's no way to tell if it's fading or not.

The 49s are probably ok, but lots of missing colors are readily fakeable.