Worth it to get a PSA 1 to complete a set?

MorrellMan

If I send one of these in for grading (I have two, both in roughly the shape shape), I could finally complete my '59 Morrell registry set. My #1 set averages a little under 6. Would you send it in for the sole purpose of completing the set or would you wait...and wait...and wait?

Cubfan

To me it would have to be worth the cost of grading to complete the set for now, and I would keep looking for a better card.

Vargha

I answered you on LTS.

NickM

Considering how hard that card is to find in any grade, I might grade both.

Nick

jrdolan

It's an interesting point: Completion % versus GPA. Which has a greater impact on set rating? I have heard the addition-by-subtraction theory and I tested it out.

The one low-grade item in my Bench Master Set is a hand-cut '71 KedKard PSA 3. It has a pop. of two and both are low-grade. It has a weight of 3 (too low in my mind, given its utter scarcity, but that's a different thread). So I removed this low-grade card from my set to see the effect, and the GPA rose from 8.83 to 8.90 or something. BUT my set's rating dropped by an even larger margin, I believe 4.37 to 4.27.

Clearly in the case of that card, owning it in ANY grade is a plus for the set, even though it can hurt the GPA. I'm sure it all depends on the card, the grade, the weight, how far the set is completed, and the constellation in which Jupiter currently resides. But it's an interesting experiment. You can always put the card back into the set after the test.

CDC4

If you were collecting a T-206 Set.......getting a PSA 1 Honus Wagner would totally be worth it.

Buccaneer

<< <i>
Clearly in the case of that card, owning it in ANY grade is a plus for the set, even though it can hurt the GPA. I'm sure it all depends on the card, the grade, the weight, how far the set is completed, and the constellation in which Jupiter currently resides. But it's an interesting experiment. You can always put the card back into the set after the test. >>



Since it's Sunday night and the Moon is in the 7th House, I'll take a curmudgeon view. Why should sets be ranked by GPA at all? I would admit to grade (even if we have to take only PSA's word for it) to go along with Complete %. Weights are nonsense and arbitrary, imo and GPA just leads to a phallic-inspired competition (thanks Nick for the image) of who has better looking plastic slabs. Bah! Show me a centered NM card that its flaw can only be seen under 10x magnification and I'll say it is better card than a 65/35 so-called PSA 9 (or a 70/30 PSA 8). I have a fundamental problem with the Registry and its rankings (no foolin', huh?), I would just like to see quality sets by collectors and their endeavor to complete them.

So to make a short rant long, what does it matter if it's a "PSA 1" to complete the set? If I had a set of Morrell, I would love to see them displayed on my wall - preferably raw so I can feel them. Why should I or anyone else care where it ranks and the effect of any one card has on such perceived rankings? The scan you showed looks great to me - it is a beautiful worn mounted photo of Koufax (it's like a lot of my cherished 19th century photos that I have of my family). Why should you even get it slabbed in plastic? Have we become so jaded that we cannot appreciate cards for themselves and perhaps feel ashamed that a card, like this Koufax, would make our sets somewhat inferior?

So there.

calleocho

Buc,

Many people buy a brand new car, when in fact they could buy an used card for half the price that does the same job ..go from point A to B

Graded cards are a lot of fun ... the registry is an amazing tool that when used correctly provides tons of entertaiment and a clear goal.

the fact of the matter is that for some sets ...its not hard at all or even expensive to complete them in less than a year ...for example the sets that you have in your sig line.

the hard part is finding the top grades for that particular grade and those are usually pretty expensive as well...making it twice as hard to adquire them.

there is a lot of appeal to having the best..and a lot of suffering if you cant afford ..but somehow people love this love-hate relationship with their cards.

and as far as differences between grades like a better looking 8 than a 9 ...well thats not the norm ...people love to tell you about how their 7 is just as good as the other persons 9..but thats only one in a 100 ..or maybe even more.

most of the time a PSA 9 is a breathtaking card that screams mint ... so yeah the game of grading will always include some overgrades and some undergrades and some really crazy stuff ..but overall the reality is that a psa 8 and 9 set will blow away any "mint" raw set out there.

BTW ..dont grade the koufax ..wait for your card ..it will be much sweeter... even if you cant afford it right now

marz

<< <i>Considering how hard that card is to find in any grade, I might grade both.

Nick >>



nick,your quick! And 100% logical.

jimtb

Get it graded - you'll sleep better at night.

Buccaneer

<< <i>Buc,

Many people buy a brand new car, when in fact they could buy an used card for half the price that does the same job ..go from point A to B

Graded cards are a lot of fun ... the registry is an amazing tool that when used correctly provides tons of entertaiment and a clear goal.

the fact of the matter is that for some sets ...its not hard at all or even expensive to complete them in less than a year ...for example the sets that you have in your sig line.

the hard part is finding the top grades for that particular grade and those are usually pretty expensive as well...making it twice as hard to adquire them.

there is a lot of appeal to having the best..and a lot of suffering if you cant afford ..but somehow people love this love-hate relationship with their cards.

and as far as differences between grades like a better looking 8 than a 9 ...well thats not the norm ...people love to tell you about how their 7 is just as good as the other persons 9..but thats only one in a 100 ..or maybe even more.

most of the time a PSA 9 is a breathtaking card that screams mint ... so yeah the game of grading will always include some overgrades and some undergrades and some really crazy stuff ..but overall the reality is that a psa 8 and 9 set will blow away any "mint" raw set out there.

BTW ..dont grade the koufax ..wait for your card ..it will be much sweeter... even if you cant afford it right now >>



Interesting analogy with the new/used car. However, there is one fundamental difference - a car (no matter what kind) has intrinsict value, whereas a card (no matter what kind except the real rares) do not.

I do understand that the peculiars in some cards of a graded sets are the exception. It's fun to slam those going overboard in the "Registry game" of buying the holder and not the card.

onlychild

Without a doubt, grade them both.

Since you hold the #1 & #2 spots, you are only in competition with yourself. Complete the set, that's what this game is all about. Plus they will be forever protected and easy to admire. Worry about the upgrades later.

Kevin

theplasticman

I might hold off for something nicer knowing that I dont really want two of the same card and could save the funds used to purchase the lower grade one for a much nicer/higher grade copy. In the end, depends upon what your goals are and if you're on a tight collecting budget or not.