Should a Authentication Company start grading World Series Programs

[nolemmings]

Count me as one who has no problem slabbing programs. I don't collect them really, but did land this one, slabbed as NM by GAI (pardon the poor cropping--the entire holder would not fit the scanner)


I once won a '65 World Series program (LA) on ebay that looked and was advertised nm-mt. When it arrived, it was absolutely pristine. No way it was ever fully read, maybe hardly/not at all. As geeky as this might sound, I didn't enjoy it because I didn't want to put any kind of stress on the binding or inadvertent crimp on the cover or a page. Bottom line, it remains in a plastic sheet, and would be slabbed if I could find a decent service. I will buy a beater if I want to read that program-- in this case, at least, it is simply not scarce.

I believe that there is nothing wrong with trying to preserve an older item, especially one that is in unusually strong condition. I know that seems antithetical to enjoying the item, and it is, but I have no problem understanding a collector's motivation in having it slabbed.

[David Atkatz]

Of course there's "nothing wrong" with trying to preserve an item; in fact, it is your responsibility as a collector to do precisely that. But all you need do is go to any responsible dealer in archival preservation materials--University Products, for example--and you'll find a wealth of items that will enable that preservation, without paying a self-proclaimed expert to "authenticate" it.
It will be preserved as museums preserve their pieces.

When have you ever seen a slabbed piece at the Hall of Fame--or any other museum, for that matter?

Take the responsibility for your own collection--both authentication, and preservation. And grading? Simply an absurd concept when it comes to historical artifacts. They are what they are.

[nolemmings]

That's fine, preserve it as you see fit. However, I also see no problem with someone, if interested in high condition programs, being able to purchase them sight unseen in a slabbed state, assuming there are at least some universal standards applied. Just because an ebay seller tells me his program is nm, I shouldn't have to take his word for it, and while he may have several scans, it isn't always apparent if a page has a slight tear or fold, or there is writing of some kind, or maybe even if it has been restapled. Again I don't collect these much at all, and certainly not with an eye toward high condition, but I do not understand why people should not be able to have that option.

Moreover, I disagree that grading here is "simply an absurd concept". Baseball cards are as much "historical artifacts" as programs, and grading is widely accepted in that medium.

I do understand the practical difficulties in buying a graded item whose interior cannot be inspected without destroying the slab, as one is taking it on faith that the interior was properly examined and evaluated. Perhaps there is a way with dealing with such condition that provides an acceptable level of comfort to buyers. Still and again, the concept of graded programs is not offensive to me.

[barrysloate]

Todd- do you know if the grading service put that program in mylar before they sealed it? Mylar is just about the best possible plastic for storing, and is widely used. It's hard to tell from the picture. If they don't, a collector could do a better job himself by placing the program in a mylar sleeve and then sliding it into hard plastic. That preserves it better and still leaves you the option of reading it if you want. It's win-win.

I do however understand the argument that if you want to buy programs over the internet, this gives you some assurance.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Todd- do you know if the grading service put that program in mylar before they sealed it? Mylar is just about the best possible plastic for storing, and is widely used.

I'm sure they didn't. They don't seem to use mylar for anything, instead favoring polyethylene and acrylic.

I'd like to see one example of a grading "service" using mylar.

[barrysloate]

Polyethelene may be okay for short term storage, but I'm not so sure for long term. Am I correct ?

[David Atkatz]

When museum curators--the real experts in artifact conservation--start having their artifacts graded and slabbed, I will, too.

[nolemmings]

Barry, I think there is mylar there, but I'll have to check--it's offsite. I agree that mylar is preferable, and I use it for the few programs I own.

I could fairly easily be persuaded to crack open the GAI program and store it in the more "normal" manner. I'm not in love with the materials or design that GAI chose. Again, I simply felt comfortable as to the program's condition when I bought it on ebay. I wondered if there would be growth in demand for "slabbed" (it's actually more flexible than the rigid plastic used for cards)programs, so I left it as is. I wish there were more slabbed programs out there, as it would assist my buying decisions, but I would not be averse to thereafter finding a different way of displaying and enjoying them.

[Leon]

Can anyone imagine buying a million dollar coin (and there are plenty of them) and not having it already be graded?

Slabbing has probably saved me 50k or more over the years.....as the raw cards I sent in, after buying, came back with some sort of alteration. I always get a guarantee of a numerical grade when I buy higher end cards (when the card is raw).

[barrysloate]

A million dollar coin has to be graded. You have no choice. But a fifty dollar program? It's a matter of preference.