1984 topps mystery help needed

[Rich Klein]

Why would they not slab/grade them as Authentic.
Just curious

Rich

[swarmee]

Because PSA doesn't want thousands of these print defects added to their Pop Report, and then attempted to be added to Set Registries. It would just be a way for people to extort registry competitors with cards that aren't real variations as intended by the manufacturers.
They send most of them back "NO GRADE, NO SPEC, NO INFO" meaning that they're not officially checklisted. Things that are checklisted (like the 1982 Blackless variation) are fair game to grade and add to registry sets.

Addition: Their term is N-9: "N-9 Don't Grade - When we do not grade an issue. The cards may be oversized or an obscure issue. You will not be charged the grading fee."

[ALR-bishop]

While I have a set of the 82 Blackless, and many of the transition cards with gray as well, I personally do not think of them as a separate set as checklisted in SCD, or variations. I think of them as recurring print defects

I agree that the defective backs should not be considered variations, but SCD, Beckett and the Registry have recognized several recurring, unintended print defects as variations.

There is no official definition of a variation and the term has been used inconsistently in the hobby.

Obviously PSA can choose to grade any defective card any way they choose...or not