Help with GAI graded T206

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by jtq81

Sorry, I thought I had attached the picture of the entire slab.

https://imgur.com/b43XwNn

Has anyone crossed over high-grade "1st Graded" GAI cards successfully to PSA?

The last sold PSA 8 example of this card according to VCP brought $102,000 in 2018 in a Heritage auction. Likely it would be much higher in today's market.

I doubt based on GAI's reputation that PSA would even consider crossing the card at this grade. Just too much risk on their part to slab this card without looking at it outside the current holder.

It is a beautiful card.

If you knew that Mike Baker reviewed it in the early days of GAI before issuing the grade, then it might well be fine but no way to know that for certain.

Unfortunately, Baker will not review GAI graded cards with his new service even though he was a co owner of GAI. I know this because I asked if he would review a GAI 8.5 graded 1954 Red Heart Mantle. The answer was he does not review GAI cards. Pretty telling answer IMO.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by rand1com

The last sold PSA 8 example of this card according to VCP brought $102,000 in 2018 in a Heritage auction. Likely it would be much higher in today's market.

I doubt based on GAI's reputation that PSA would even consider crossing the card at this grade. Just too much risk on their part to slab this card without looking at it outside the current holder.

It is a beautiful card.

If you knew that Mike Baker reviewed it in the early days of GAI before issuing the grade, then it might well be fine but no way to know that for certain.

Unfortunately, Baker will not review GAI graded cards with his new service even though he was a co owner of GAI. I know this because I asked if he would review a GAI 8.5 graded 1954 Red Heart Mantle. The answer was he does not review GAI cards. Pretty telling answer IMO.

Great information and well presented.
+1 agree

[jtq81]

Originally Posted by rand1com

The last sold PSA 8 example of this card according to VCP brought $102,000 in 2018 in a Heritage auction. Likely it would be much higher in today's market.

I doubt based on GAI's reputation that PSA would even consider crossing the card at this grade. Just too much risk on their part to slab this card without looking at it outside the current holder.

It is a beautiful card.

If you knew that Mike Baker reviewed it in the early days of GAI before issuing the grade, then it might well be fine but no way to know that for certain.

Unfortunately, Baker will not review GAI graded cards with his new service even though he was a co owner of GAI. I know this because I asked if he would review a GAI 8.5 graded 1954 Red Heart Mantle. The answer was he does not review GAI cards. Pretty telling answer IMO.

Thank you. This is the kind of answer I was looking for.

So, what now? Is it better to keep it in a GAI holder for eternity or would having it raw be better?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by jtq81

Thank you. This is the kind of answer I was looking for.

So, what now? Is it better to keep it in a GAI holder for eternity or would having it raw be better?

Leave it in the GAI holder.

[rand1com]

I would leave it in the GAI holder because there is a chance it is fine. I just don't think PSA or SGC would cross it over. However, it might be worth trying.

If you break it out and it is OK, you can submit it to PSA with no problem and they may well grade it an 8 if they have it in hand not in a holder.

GAI was legitimate in the early years as Mike Baker left PSA as the head grader to form GAI with Steve Rocchi who was the President of PSA at the time. He is one of the most respected card graders.

I was originally under the impression that the 1st graded designation referred only to the original 1st card graded by GAI of a specific card but others on this forum have other opinions of what 1st graded means.

Not sure what the crossover fee would be for a card of this value but I assume it would be based on the value of the card in that grade based on the PSA SMR. It would stay in the GAI holder if they failed to cross it but the fee would be the same. SGC fee for crossover may be more reasonable.

Bottom line is if you are a collector, you have a very nice card. If you are looking to sell it, the options are not great in the current holder. Certainly not 6 figure value IMO.

[Luke]

It's trimmed but very nice looking.

[jtq81]

Originally Posted by Luke

It's trimmed but very nice looking.

What/where are you seeing this to make this decision? Serious question.

[JustinD]

I would be hesitant for sure as visually I agree it looks a bit short top to bottom. For something of this value if a direct flip was possible, it would have happened during any sale in the recent past. I hate grading, but I certainly would not leave a minimum of 70k on the table not trying.

[G1911]

As I remember, first graded meant the first copy of that card to get that specific grade. So there can be a first graded GAI 2 Cobb Bat Off, a first graded 5, a first graded 8 etc.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by jtq81

What/where are you seeing this to make this decision? Serious question.

Tiny borders, super sharp corners, sitting in a GAI holder in 2022 are the main three reasons. My gut immediately said trimmed, which means a lot to me as I've handled thousands of t206s and looked at many more scans, but probably doesn't mean much to you I realize. The bottom edge doesn't look straight to me and all of the corners look to be slightly off of 90 degrees, even though the card is not diamond cut.

[jtq81]

Originally Posted by Luke

Tiny borders, super sharp corners, sitting in a GAI holder in 2022 are the main three reasons. My gut immediately said trimmed, which means a lot to me as I've handled thousands of t206s and looked at many more scans, but probably doesn't mean much to you I realize. The bottom edge doesn't look straight to me and all of the corners look to be slightly off of 90 degrees, even though the card is not diamond cut.

Thank you. I really do appreciate you taking the time to explain.