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

[GrayGhost]

Too bad that these companies couldnt send you a letter of authentication w a picture of the front/back of your own photo on it, designating type and all. You could then just keep the letter w it, or if framed, it could be inside the frame or something.

[barrysloate]

I'm also from the school that says too many things are being slabbed. I think soon everything wil be slabbed. Is that a good look for the hobby?

[mr2686]

Count me in as one who hates to see things slabbed. Now, that may be because my collection is like a black hole...nothing ever leaves so I'm not worried about the resale value, but also I just don't like the look.

[19cbb]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm also from the school that says too many things are being slabbed. I think soon everything wil be slabbed. Is that a good look for the hobby?

+1

[Lordstan]

As an addition to my previous comments.

On this board, we have no need because between Jimmy, Dr Cycleback, Rhys, and what seems like a million others, we have our own in house authentication service. The staff is friendly and enthusiatic. We are not only excited about our own pickups, but other's as well. Everyone pitches in for our mutual benefit.

OK, I finished the cool-aid now.

Mark

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

Too bad that these companies couldnt send you a letter of authentication w a picture of the front/back of your own photo on it, designating type and all. You could then just keep the letter w it, or if framed, it could be inside the frame or something.

Scott...

PSA does this. Here's their letter for an item I just won in Mile High... Type 1 photo of Hank Aaron's 3,000th Hit (I was at this game as a kid in Crosley Field.... yay!)

Not sure, however, if they photograph the backs of the photos for their COAs (if not, they should!) To your point, I much prefer this avenue to the potential slabbing of the beatiful photo.

[Hankphenom]

Sorry, Jimmy, I have to disagree. This will benefit the whales of photography collecting and PSA, and cost everybody else a lot of money, in my humble opinion. As a longtime collector and dealer of vintage photography, I just don't see the need for this service. Unlike cards and autographs, there's never been an issue of forgery that I'm aware of, and trimming is not a problem. And keeping a collection in binders of PVC-free sheets is perfect for both storage and viewing. In your capacities as collector and dealer, how many times have you needed someone else to tell you anything you don't already know about the photos you handle? With only a tiny % of photos I've dealt with has there been some question as to the type or vintage, and I don't think the "authenticators" at PSA will do any better than you and I, and maybe worse. As far as grading is concerned, all you need is your eyes. The market has always "graded" photos by the price, now the grade will drive the price instead. Card and autograph grading, although correcting some abuses, turned collecting from fun to an anal-compulsive contest. Now grading will do the same to photos and everything else it touches. Yuck.
Hank Thomas

[thekingofclout]

Good to hear from you Hank. Been a long time.

Just to clarify one issue...the sky is not falling.

Also, PSA will not be grading photos in any way, shape, or form. For those that wish their photos to be graded, Beckett will do so.

Regards, Jimmy

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

Good to hear from you Hank. Been a long time.

Just to clarify one issue...the sky is not falling.

Also, PSA will not be grading photos in any way, shape, or form. For those that wish their photos to be graded, Beckett will do so.

Regards, Jimmy

I wasn't trying to be Chicken Little, just expressing my opinion on something I care about. Seems like a solution without a problem, but maybe I can be convinced. So tell me, who are going to be the beneficiaries here? And are you really looking forward to having all your beautiful photos encased in heavy plastic surrounded by a lot of color graphics? But most importantly for those on this board, will you still be able to start those great threads for the rest of us to enjoy?
Hank

[David Atkatz]

It is certainly a "solution without a problem." No one is printing photos today, and passing them off as "Type I." (Also a ridiculous and completely arbitrary concept, invented by dealers to fleece more customers. Either a photo was printed and used roughly when it was taken, or it was reprinted later. One year later, two years later, five years later? In general, no way to tell. Twenty years later? Yeah, you can determine that.)

PSA is not in business to "help the collector." PSA is in business to make money. And, by its very nature PSA's business will dry up (how many times can you resubmit the same card?), unless it comes up with new items to slab.
Autographs, checks (checks, fer chrissakes--do you really need PSA to tell you a check is genuine?), and now photos.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

It is certainly a "solution without a problem." No one is printing photos today, and passing them off as "Type I." (Also a ridiculous and completely arbitrary concept, invented by dealers to fleece more customers. Either a photo was printed and used roughly when it was taken, or it was reprinted later. One year later, two years later, five years later? In general, no way to tell. Twenty years later? Yeah, you can determine that.)

PSA is not in business to "help the collector." PSA is in business to make money. And, by its very nature PSA's business will dry up (how many times can you resubmit the same card?), unless it comes up with new items to slab.
Autographs, checks (checks, fer chrissakes--do you really need PSA to tell you a check is genuine?), and now photos.

Completely agree.... and when PSA's business does dry up (and they ultimately go out of business) how much clout will those slabs really carry?

When PSA is no longer a driving force, who will care whether a card was arbitrarily graded a "9" instead of an "8". The joke will be on the guy who paid twice as much money for the "9" (even though the "8" might well be nicer in appearance).

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

It is certainly a "solution without a problem." No one is printing photos today, and passing them off as "Type I." (Also a ridiculous and completely arbitrary concept, invented by dealers to fleece more customers. Either a photo was printed and used roughly when it was taken, or it was reprinted later. One year later, two years later, five years later? In general, no way to tell. Twenty years later? Yeah, you can determine that.)

PSA is not in business to "help the collector." PSA is in business to make money. And, by its very nature PSA's business will dry up (how many times can you resubmit the same card?), unless it comes up with new items to slab.
Autographs, checks (checks, fer chrissakes--do you really need PSA to tell you a check is genuine?), and now photos.

Right on, David! I have to totally agree with you on this one. IMHO this slabbing thing is getting way out of hand. PSA authenticating checks, now photos- yikes! Personally if I find an item that I particularly like that has been entombed, I crack the SOB open so I don't have to look at the eyesore in my collection.