GAI vs PSA , would you pay a premium for the 1/2 grade

packCollector

just checking my outbids at mastro since it is almost impossible to stay on top of anything. I then read a thread here that collectors discount GAI cards 1/2 to a whole grade.(I don't agree and don't think a generalization can be made without looking atthe card)

There are 3 different koufax rookies in the current mastro auction , a gai 8 that is way o/c , a psa 8 and this gai 8.5, my question is , is this card worth a premium over a psa 8?

my opinion, I am not sure how this card is a gai 8.5 period. the centering measured from the worst point is borderline 8 imho.

second question, are high end cards gaining ground in gai holders in the 1/2 grades? I ask because I am amazed at what this card is currently at.

Lothar52

no..it looks a bit slanted to me!!!! i like my 50/50 psa 6 koufax

WinPitcher

I wouldnt pay a premium for the half grade unless it was a monster. This card has the out of register problem at the lower right hand corner that so many of the Koufax cards have. It appears slighty slanted too.....other then that it is a nice card just in the wrong holder.

srs1a

PackCollector,

As far as I can tell, key cards in both GAI and SGC holders....in 8.5 grades are receiving substantial premiums -vs- a straight PSA-8. A few months ago, I tracked 3 55T Aarons ...a PSA-8, an SGC-88 and an SGC-92. The results were:

PSA-8, $666 final price, auction ended 12/21/03, eBAY auction 2773458926
SGC-88 (8.0), $698 final price, auction ended 12/22/03, eBAY auction 2774043258
SGC-92 (8.5), $1423 final price, auction ended 12/03/03, eBAY auction 2769074982

So, the PSA-8 and SGC-88 sold for very similar amounts and the SGC-92 received a large premium. I would expect that you will see a similar result on the 55 Koufax. I would add that you definately do not see the same behavior for commons.

I have not tracked it extensively, but my impression is that the 7.5 grades are not receiving significant premiums -vs- a straight PSA-7.

On centering criterion for the half grades, I know that SGC uses the same value for their 8 and 8.5 grades...I suspect that GAI does the same, but I'm not sure.

aro13

packcollector - I think there are a lot of factors at work here. A high end GAI 8.5 is definately worth more than a PSA 8 but significantly less than a 9. For people that just want a great card regardless of grading company they would probably pay a decent premium for an 8.5. For others who are thinking of crossing over there is a big profit to be made if the card can get into a 9 holder. Mastro described the 8.5 Koufax as borderline mint.

I am bidding on the GAI 8 Koufax but given the look of the card I am looking at it like a high end 7. I would have no interest in crossing the card over.

packCollector

aro , I looked at the 3 and i don't care about the holder. I just want the best card if there is one that suits me. I agree that i thought the gai 8 was a high end 7. I looked at the gai 8.5 and pegged it as an 8 range card because the side to side at the worst point (bottom) was very weak. the rest of the card looks great so I thought 8 grade money was appropriate. who was I kidding? then the psa 8 i thought was appropriate in an 8 and so far is selling accordingly. mastro can say what they want , the 8.5 is probably a spectacular card but with that centering would never be a 9 in any holder. thanks for your insight , it will be interesting how other 1/2 grade cards sell in the near future .

aro13

packcollector - There seem to be quite a few high-grade Koufax rookie cards in big lots too. You might have a good chance on one of those.

NickM

I went and looked at my GAI half grades:

'54 Topps Greengrass GAI 7.5 - it's a solid 7, but not exceptional. Considering the prices '54 is pulling now, it will get crossed one of these days - probably when PSA runs a crossover special.
'65 Topps Twins Team GAI 6.5 - it's a very nice 6, but wouldn't draw a 7 unless some grader just won the lottery.
'40 Play Ball Gelbert GAI 6.5 - yeah right. It's a PSA 5 card. It has serious issues with the bottom right corner. Luckily I paid less than PSA 5s go for from this set.

I'm just not impressed with GAI grading overall.

Nick

koby

That card has a horrible slant cut.