Anyone know about the use of "sleeves" within PSA holders?

detroitfan2

I just received 3 1953 Bowman colors in the mail today, including this one:



It's a bit hard to tell from the scan, but the card is within some sort of inner "sleeve". I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but can anyone explain why this is? I have seen this before with cards like Kellogg's 3-D, but I have owned probably 400 early 1950's cards and have never seen one with this "sleeve". Is this from a certain "era" of PSA? The serial # is in the 1158 range. I have several cards that are in the 0 range with the "old-style" font, and none of them have the "sleeve".

I'm still happy with the card, I'm just curious about the history of the "sleeve".

Thanks!

-Tom

WinPitcher

I have recieved a few 65 topps baseball cards that way too. from what i understand is they use that when a card barely meets min size requirement. that way the card does not swim around within the holder. i have also heard they use them when they run out of certain holders too. small cards like t206 in a reg slab etc.

sd

Griffins

it seems to be pretty arbitrary- I've got a wide range of sets that have them with and without. I know a few years ago I dropped an order off at PSA and showed Charlie the ones that had the condom and he reholdered them on the spot- he said on a lot of issues it didn't matter and was up to whoever was slabbing that day.
There is no variation in the size of the Cracker Jacks, '41 Playballs, and '58 Bell Brands that I have cards slabbed both ways.

Brian48

One of my Tom Brady SP Auth rookies came back with the condom. I personally think that in my case, they ran out of the regular holders and the slabber just grabbed whatever that was available.

detroitfan2

<<I personally think that in my case, they ran out of the regular holders and the slabber just grabbed whatever that was available. >>

That seems to be the case with my card too, as it appears that the holder space is larger than the card by a tad.

If it's true that they just grab whatever holder is available, that seems kind of weak to me on PSA's part.

Knuckles

That card actually doesn't look too bad in the condom. The little pre-war cards do look horrible in the condom holders.

calleocho

I know its silly but i avoid cards with the sleeve...

I heard once that some costumers asked for it ... I know BGS uses sleeves for their holders.

Southerncards

I think that the writers, producers, and make up artists asked for it also, after they saw what the costumers were getting.