Vintage Collector Trimmed Article And Thoughts

[mferronibc]

Thanks John, that link was very informative and also took a look at the blowout postings. I appreciate all the feedback and hate to just keep repeating the same question but all of this info basically assumes you have a raw card in hand at home with a halogen lamp and loupes. I live in small town Wisconsin, even before Covid there is little access to card stores or shows thus like most collectors I purchase 99% online. The crux of my question is how do you do that more confidently, especially if the card is already slabbed and only get a pic of the front and back? That's where my idea came up of an independent group of experienced collectors who could eyeball a posting and give you honest feedback (maybe for a fee of 2% of the value or something). This wouldn't be bible but at least help newer vintage collectors like me and in the big picture help the hobby in general because no one wins if altered cards continue to sell at exorbitant prices. Sure this too could be open to corruption but the mission statement would be based on integrity and trust and only those "trusted" collectors and dealers who have that cache would be involved.

It's a shame we cannot trust the authentication process (not just the grading - I can look at a card and even I can tell reasonably the grade) of the grading companies. Say what you want about PSA, and I certainly not oblivious to the critiques, but when an actual grader sits down with a card are they under a halogen lamp with loupes on, or do they just eyeball the corners and wear, assign a number and move on? I'm not asking for opinion, I'm know the hatred for PSA runs deep, but actual knowledge of this process. I've certainly seen good looking cards in a PSA slab labeled "altered" so at least sometimes this process worked as it should.