BVG accuracy on lower-mid vintage...?

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by swarmee

When I was at Cooperstown last year, they had some vintage cards that had large obvious heavy creases that were graded PSA 4 for sale. So if PSA was consistent, you might have a point. I would guess that card would easily grade a 4, and might get the half point bump.

Interesting, thanks. And...after all that - I did find where Beckett as recently as 2012 had listed the "official" grading criteria on their site (via Wayback Machine) and for a 4; it states thusly:

Very Good/Excellent - 4
Centering: 80/20 both ways or better on front. 100/0 or better on back. Moderate diamond cutting is allowed.
Corners: Slight notching or layering, or moderate dings are allowed.
Edges: Readily chipped or notched and/or slightly layered.
Surface: Heavy print spots. Hairline creases. Moderate color or focus imperfections. Moderate border discoloration. Moderate wax stains. Very light ink mark or tape stain. A good deal of gloss lost from surface. Very minor scuffing or an extremely subtle tear in the form of a touch of broken surface paper.

I would say my Mantle falls easily within this category, with many attributes better, and actually - given the way I learned to grade in the 80's and early 90's - I think the Beckett standard is more precise and accurate than PSA's current description - which mentions nothing even about wrinkles or creases at all (kind of important for the grade??), but simply says "Surface wear is noticeable but modest." I think that is their way of being intentionally vague to be able to defend a range of opinions on that grade.

Beckett above says hairline "creaseS" -implying there can be more than one. I think I'm good to go...this card may not be a 4 by PSA standards, but at least for Beckett it seems they graded the card accurately by theirs.