2 Questions/Observations about TPG Grading

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Steve D

He used flowery language like "The edges on this card could trim Santa's beard", or "This card's corners could stab you to death". He made a ton of money doing his schtick.

Sounds like another guy I know. #saltoftheearth

[Exhibitman]

Cash is king. PSA was started to cash in on the perception--which it fomented with its advertising--that many cards were altered and only the skills of PSA could prevent you from purchasing worthless franken-cards. Seems ironic now...

The grading scale for cards was actually created by a notorious douchebag named Alan Hager, who started the first slabbing company, ASA. You occasionally see a card of his still out there. Hager was notorious for two things: putting his own cards into overgraded ASA slabs and writing a laughable card guide that primarily existed to pump the value of cards in his slabs. PSA paid the licensing fee to get the 1-10 scale; SGC's ancestor did not, which is why it had that 0-100 scale. So the whole business was born of a fraud wrapped in a con.

Since then, PSA and others have further fractionated the point system. If it survives the current scandals I wouldn't be surprised to see a 0-100 true point system some day. All random nonsense, of course, since we all know that a blazing card with a tiny spot of back paper loss is not the equivalent of a beater. It just takes Moser and PWCC to make us all see it again.

[1880nonsports]

has a meaningful spot on my shelves. It was a pretty book for the era :-) Love how he had a sales force dressed in suit and ties with only his tome and overpriced hyped cards in a nice leather briefcase. A known snake oil selling con man from the coin realm turns to the cardboard industry to bury prettied up pigs in plastic cases. Who would have thunk it.