Variations in PSA 10s, possible pricing tiers?
LodiBrewFan
Posts: 564 ✭
We all know that any card that lands in a PSA 10, Bgs 10, or a SGC 100, are all pretty much cards in gem condition, for the most part. The hard part here is that human opinion factors into the decision making process and that not all 10's are equal.
I'm going to use two cards as an example: 1979 topps or OPC Wayne the great and 1991 Stadium Club Brett Farve. Both cards have a 'floating' feature that does not factor into the grading of either card
1979 Wayne. The orange blob within the Oilers logo can be found perfectly centered or more toward the left or right.
1991 Stadium Club Brett Farve. Brett Farve's name was stamped on to a banner. This stamping process was all over the place. I would venture to say that fewer than 20% of the PSA 10s graded, actually has his name perfectly centered.
I'm sure that there other nick-knacks that collectors have noticed, but has escaped the eye of PSA.
With all of that said, does anyone see a scenerio where equally graded 10's may actually have different values?
I'm going to use two cards as an example: 1979 topps or OPC Wayne the great and 1991 Stadium Club Brett Farve. Both cards have a 'floating' feature that does not factor into the grading of either card
1979 Wayne. The orange blob within the Oilers logo can be found perfectly centered or more toward the left or right.
1991 Stadium Club Brett Farve. Brett Farve's name was stamped on to a banner. This stamping process was all over the place. I would venture to say that fewer than 20% of the PSA 10s graded, actually has his name perfectly centered.
I'm sure that there other nick-knacks that collectors have noticed, but has escaped the eye of PSA.
With all of that said, does anyone see a scenerio where equally graded 10's may actually have different values?
Scoreboard Malfunction
0
Comments
<< <i>We all know that any card that lands in a PSA 10, Bgs 10, or a SGC 100, are all pretty much cards in gem condition, for the most part. >>
No. PSA 10 encompass both Gem Mint and Pristine grades.
BGS 10 and SGC 100 are reserved for only Pristine. SGC 98 and BGS 9.5 are used for "Gem Mint".
By PSA's own definition, a PSA 10 doesn't need to have 50/50 centering. You'll already see some price variation between perfectly centered 10s and less-than-perfectly centered 10s.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
maybe they should start up with PSA-10.1, PSA-10.3, etc. to soak more cash from the slab happies
Dont fall for the hype....... Buy the card not the slab
The only reason I can come up with is if one believes that a "Pristine" grade from one of the other two, would generate a higher value than a "gem"
<< <i>Given the variances in centering allowances made by PSA, if you had a card that was absolutly 50/50 with four razor sharp corners. Would anyone be incline to submit to another grading company than PSA?
The only reason I can come up with is if one believes that a "Pristine" grade from one of the other two, would generate a higher value than a "gem" >>
I think the problem, with PSA in particular, is allowing for variance and imperfection under the 'PSA 10' grade. If you have a scale, then the highest possible grade, in this case a 10, should represent a card that is perfect... at least to the naked eye. A perfect grade, imo, should be reserved for cards that are centered 50/50 front and back and that exhibit no printing imperfections. The fact that they allow for a 60/40 front and 75/25 back, along with 'slight printing imperfections,' doesn't make sense. The fact that PSA allows for variance and imperfection, opens the door to subjectivity in judging a cards grade, which brings us to the point this thread introduces. I don't have a problem with lesser grades allowing for objective variance, but there should be no room for this with a 10 grade.
Take the OPC Gretzky RC. What would happen if an example with perfect centring and surface, 4 sharp corners, a perfectly centred oil drop and a perfect cut appeared? It would receive a PSA 10 grade, but would be significantly better (objectively speaking) than the existing PSA 10's (2?).
My point is, subjective human opinion only becomes a factor in the decision making process because of the objetive variance allowed between PSA 10 graded cards. I have yet to see a perfect Gretzky OPC RC, but I have see examples which exhibit perfect centring or a perfect cut or perfect printing... and while an example exhibiting all of those together has yet to show up, the PSA 10 grade should be reserved in case one does.
I'm not sure if I articulated my point clearly... excuse me if I didn't make much sense, lol
There is one PSA 9 that has his name perfectly centered. I believe the seller knows what he has because it has a buy it now price of 179.95.
Thats not a bad price if you consider how hard it is to find his name perfectly centered.