PSA set to encapsulate "TYPE" Photographs & Signed photos as well...

[M's_Fan]

Beautiful photos going into ugly PSA holders, yuck.

In my opinion, these photos belong in nice frames behind museum quality glass, not in a tacky acrylic holder of any grading company.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by M's_Fan

Beautiful photos going into ugly PSA holders, yuck.

In my opinion, these photos belong in nice frames behind museum quality glass, not in a tacky acrylic holder of any grading company.

what if you don't wish to display them? How would you then suggest to keep them safe?

[M's_Fan]

Originally Posted by Bicem

what if you don't wish to display them? How would you then suggest to keep them safe?

they make inexpensive top loaders for photos. Only 1/4" thick and pennies a piece.

However I missed this from the PSA release:

This new holder is sturdy enough for safe storage but thin enough so you can easily frame certified photos for display on a wall, desk or table.”

A thin holder that can be easily framed is definitely a good thing. If people want to get their old photos certified as type 1, etc., then more power to them. I personally don't see a need, and having a layer of plastic and glass on top of the photo isn't great for picture quality.

Will SGC follow suit? I would guess so, you can't let PSA corner the market. I would hope that SGC just certifies the photo as type 1, etc., and authenticates the signature if applicable, and doesn't wade into grading a photo.

[drc]

I'm not a fan of holdering photos, but I'm not about to say what others should like. If a collector wants his wirephoto in a holder, that's fine with me. It's his photo.

I think third party authentication can be a good and useful service, but don't like photos being professionally graded 1-10. The day collectors say "Do you think this PSA9 wirephoto will cross over to a SGC9" is the day I puke.

This doesn't mean I hate or lose sleep over photos being grades. Just that I don't like it (And I have my reasons). Reasonable people, I'm sure, like it-- so there you go.

[Exhibitman]

I can't believe I'm actually justifying PSA'S service, but....

Hank: I and others said the same sorts of things about TPG when PSA first came up. To a large extent I still feel that way about high grade postwar cards. So I'm with you philosophically in terms of concern about plastic slab and label collectors being more concerned with the holder than the item. That said, there is definitely a place in the hobby for the service in at least two ways:

--Internet/Ebay sales: As is the case with cards, when I buy a graded card from a reputable service I stand a very good chance of getting what I bought. If people want to collect photos without amassing years of experience in the nuances or want to deal with Ebay purchases with reasonable reassurance as to what they get, this will help.

--Preservation/Protection/Display: Storing photos in sheets is an imperfect solution--too much movement and flex for some items--and the top loaders that are available are not archival quality. My compromise has been to put the photo in an archival sleeve then into an oversized top loader, which means I look at the image through two layers of plastic that isn't that clear anyway--not a great solution from an enjoyment perspective. I also don't particularly like framing vintage autographed stuff and putting it on the walls. Great way to wreck an autograph, especlally in a less than museum quality lighting situation. And if I want to display something temporarily then take it down, what do I do w/it--that framed item is a real storage nightmare. Not to menting the cost of a good frame-up, which far exceeds the cost of a slab and thus is not practical for a lot of items.

As for Beckett, their slab is ugly enough with a card in it; really lousy with a photo. If I want to look at them in ugly surroundings, I will just leave them in the sleeve in top loader.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I can't believe I'm actually justifying PSA'S service, but....

--Internet/Ebay sales: As is the case with cards, when I buy a graded card from a reputable service I stand a very good chance of getting what I bought. If people want to collect photos without amassing years of experience in the nuances or want to deal with Ebay purchases with reasonable reassurance as to what they get, this will help.

Perfectly put Exhibitman, thank you. Just remember guys, if you don't like the way a photo looks once you've bought a slabbed image... CUT IT OUT! That's what I would do.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and comments. Regards, Jimmy