Pack grading criteria
smallstocks
Posts: 1,631 ✭✭✭✭
Can someone please explain how PSA decides on the grades for cello packs? I submitted 17 pretty much untouched packs from a box I bought in 1979 and the grades ran from 7 to 9. One pack even came back as "N5 - Altered Stock" which is 100% impossible.
Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
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Pack grading can be tough. It resembles a justice system designed to never imprison a innocent man at the sake of knowing some guilty men will skate... it's designed to reduce the number of fakes that get into holders (at the sake of some legit packs getting rejected). As far as specifically grading cellos, I think the following are how they're judged...
Corner folds (how close to perfect triangles ard they?)
Centering of wrapper
Cleanliness and condition of wrapper (dirt? cracks? wear?)
Authenticity of factory seal and collation patterns.
Centering of top card.
Primary factory is condition of the wrapper itself and whether there are any splits or tears or holes in the corners. To a lesser degree, the centering of the top card in the pack. Also, if a wrapper is upside down, highest grade is a NM 7 even if pack is otherwise mint. What was your breakdown by grade? 7s to 9s is a fairly common outcome for vintage pack grading.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
7 PSA 7
5 PSA 8
4 PSA 9
1 Altered Stock
Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
Were the cards on top of the 7s OC?
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I haven't received the packs back yet and don't recall offhand after 7 months but I would say that was certainly a possibility.
Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
What Grade could you expect for an otherwise strong pack that was in say, 9 condition, but with an OC top Card?
John
If its extremely OC or miscut, 7 is the max I've seen. If centering of top card falls within the allowance for an 8, then it shouldn't have much impact on the grade of the pack.
I boggles my mind why they consider the centering of the top card. Yes, it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye but it has nothing to do with the condition of the pack. But that's just my opinion.
Correct. Way OC is typically a PSA 7.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
If PSA judge the centering of the top card which means they would find out who's on the top and bottom of the pack (assuming it is wax pack and not cello). In my mind, that pack has been "searched"??
No, because there are many different collation patterns within a pack (unless it's something like 1986 Fleer basketball) and sequencing typically breaks multiple times within the pack.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Just received my packs back from PSA. I honestly cannot tell the differences between the 7's and 9's. It is not related to centering apparently.
Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
How long did it take to get them back from the time you mailed them?
Just under 7 months.
Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
I cant see the backs of the packs, but to my eyes, they look absolutely identical.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
the grader obviously is a bills fan
I cant see the backs of the packs, but to my eyes, they look absolutely identical.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
In addition to the backs, check the sides of the packs. Cellos from this era often have a split or tear along the side of the pack due to the tighter wrap. Looking at just the fronts of the packs does not provide enough info to assess the grade.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.