How far back do slabbed / graded cards go?
metrotheme
Posts: 548
I was reading through one of my old Beckett's from 1992 as I prepare to move them on to another collector .. and one of the mail in questions was about "slabbed" cards.
The reader writes: "I was wondering how prominent card slabbing is. I was talking to a man at a recent show, and he said that slabbing will be commonplace in a matter of a couple of years. I would like to saw that card slabbing is not only ridiculous, but it shows how much this fun hobby is turning into a money-at-all-costs business." - May 1992
Theo Chen goes on to say "But unlike with coins, the attractiveness of cards varies greatly depending on the individual. Some collectors pay most attention to corners, others to creases, others to centering, etc. Therefore, it will be difficult for any company to establish a universal grading structure for cards."
When was the earliest you saw a slabbed / graded card? Did anyone else see this coming like the reader?
The reader writes: "I was wondering how prominent card slabbing is. I was talking to a man at a recent show, and he said that slabbing will be commonplace in a matter of a couple of years. I would like to saw that card slabbing is not only ridiculous, but it shows how much this fun hobby is turning into a money-at-all-costs business." - May 1992
Theo Chen goes on to say "But unlike with coins, the attractiveness of cards varies greatly depending on the individual. Some collectors pay most attention to corners, others to creases, others to centering, etc. Therefore, it will be difficult for any company to establish a universal grading structure for cards."
When was the earliest you saw a slabbed / graded card? Did anyone else see this coming like the reader?
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"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
<< <i>I was reading through one of my old Beckett's from 1992 as I prepare to move them on to another collector .. and one of the mail in questions was about "slabbed" cards.
The reader writes: "I was wondering how prominent card slabbing is. I was talking to a man at a recent show, and he said that slabbing will be commonplace in a matter of a couple of years. I would like to saw that card slabbing is not only ridiculous, but it shows how much this fun hobby is turning into a money-at-all-costs business." - May 1992
Theo Chen goes on to say "But unlike with coins, the attractiveness of cards varies greatly depending on the individual. Some collectors pay most attention to corners, others to creases, others to centering, etc. Therefore, it will be difficult for any company to establish a universal grading structure for cards."
When was the earliest you saw a slabbed / graded card? Did anyone else see this coming like the reader? >>
I am not sure I would agree that the reader saw the future....perhaps you mean the dealer? It was always a money at all cost business.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
ASA was the first and it was about ca.1989-90.
CSA was very early too.
PSA came along a couple years later, years later GAI branched off of PSA.
SBC was in this ca.1991 time too, they folded after a couple years, and SGC started up a few years later and used many of the characteristics of the SBC slabs/100 point grading system
On another note, in the mid 1990s a PSA-9 would sell for about 125%-150% of the NRMT (raw) value listed in guides (SCD Standard Catalog)...... now its more like 300-500+% if not more, and these are the same cards, nothing special.
Grading (not slabs) ruined the hobby IMO. They should have 2 grades "Authentic" and "Authentic Altered"..... get rid of all the stupid numbers, its not needed.
Not sure how you can say grading is not important.
How else does one value a card?
How else do 2 people come to agreement?
Steve
I do not understand your thinking on grading. I totally disagree with it, to be honest with you. Grading has it's pros and cons, but it has helped more than it has hurt.
If we go back to taking someone's word on the condition of a card, especially when buying online, imagine the horror stories? I am definately not interested in that game! People would be buying overgraded, trimmed, altered, ect... What a nightmare it would become.
To add:
Even if they did start the 2 slabs that you suggested, you are still taking a sellers word for the condition on the unaltered stuff. That becomes a slippery slope....
No, I would get cards slabbed to protect them only, you would still need to examine the cards to see what a fair value is.
The number grades are good for one thing, you can buy blind. But the hobby has now completely changed in the last 18 years in the fact that people are willing to pay 5X more for a PSA-9 compared to a PSA-8 and they are both REALLY the same condition if raw. People do what they want to do, oh well.
There is good and bad things about the number grading system, Im more oldschool so dont need some company telling me what condition a card is. Sometimes I do like the slabs for protection though, especially the more valuable cards. Ive lightened up over the years on this subject.
PS. I havent cracked out a card in over a year....but Ive cracked out about 300 cards in the last 18 years, and no I did not send in the flips so dont trust the population reports they are completely screwed up
But you wont see me buying too many cards above a PSA-6, unless its a deal. A PSA-6 is good enough for me, touched corners, no creases, a clean card at a reasonable price.
Steve
<< <i>True PSA 6 (EX/MNT) cards are the best value in cards.
Steve >>
I agree with that 100%. There are some beautiful 6's out there.
Fossilized slabs have been unearthed along the banks of the Euphrates - many were transported there from the land of Lot.
The ancient caves of Methostipheles reputedly have the earliest known records of completed sets in 8 or better.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."