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What makes an unopened pack grade high?

lightningboylightningboy Posts: 1,483 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I am tinkingabout sendng in my first order of unopened wax (1970's - early '80"s). Obviously tears in the wax will lower te grade, but what other subtle things should I look for?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The seal on back, gloss on the wrapper, and if it's a cello, centering of top card.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭
    Here's the Gem Mint from the standards. It's a long winded version of what Tim said + Gum. I always feel like the centering of the wax wrapper should be a big factor, but I guess it's not on the standards.


    GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint
    A PSA Gem Mint 10 pack is a virtually perfect pack that should exhibit pristine corners and edges, which are free of any holes, tears or wear of any sort (including not having any wear to the corner folds). The seal on the reverse must be virtually undisturbed and free of any soiling or toning. The sealed folds on the reverse must also lay flush to the pack and not exhibit any lift from the seal. In addition, the pack must be "fresh" in appearance and free of any water or mildew damage to the wrapper or gum in order to qualify for this grade. There may be an allowance made for a small printing imperfection as long as the pack still shows superb eye appeal.

    Note: The top card within a cello pack must be centered approximately 65/35 or better.

    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭
    Okay, I found the part that includes centering and it actually looks even more subjective than cards. After the things that will automatically knock you down, it's all about "Eye Appeal". I love this in theory, but not sure it's realistic to be completely consistent with that. From the standards:


    The Importance of Eye Appeal

    The eye appeal factor is virtually as important to pack grading as it is to the approach used in trading card grading.....

    In addition, while the centering of a pack wrapper is important, the pack grading approach does not view wrap centering in terms of percentages. The key factor, regardless of the technical measurement of the centering, is whether or not the centering (or lack thereof) of the wrap affects the overall eye appeal.



    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • Goodsport40Goodsport40 Posts: 1,010 ✭✭
    Good luck.

    Robert
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    I've never graded a pack, but I've got a few I'm thinking of sending in (mid late 70s and an 86f basketball). What is the highest grade a pack can receive IF there is a small tear, the size of a pin hole on a corner? I have a 75t mini with a small pinhole tear and another with a small corner tear. I'm trying to determine if I should RIP or submit.

    I also have some 79s that look subjective. If they come back altered, does PSA send you a voucher or is it a lost cause? I'm assume lost cause, similar to grading a trimmed card.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What is the highest grade a pack can receive IF there is a small tear, the size of a pin hole on a corner? I have a 75t mini with a small pinhole tear and another with a small corner tear. I'm trying to determine if I should RIP or submit.


    Usually NM 7. I have found that PSA has also tightened up grading on wax lately, too.

    No vouchers if pack doesn't grade for any reason.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I've never graded a pack, but I've got a few I'm thinking of sending in (mid late 70s and an 86f basketball). What is the highest grade a pack can receive IF there is a small tear, the size of a pin hole on a corner? I have a 75t mini with a small pinhole tear and another with a small corner tear. I'm trying to determine if I should RIP or submit.

    I also have some 79s that look subjective. If they come back altered, does PSA send you a voucher or is it a lost cause? I'm assume lost cause, similar to grading a trimmed card. >>



    sounds like you should rip it and post scans
    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • PFBPFB Posts: 271 ✭✭
    The other thing about graded packs, and those of us who collect graded packs understand this, is even after it has been graded, because the gum inside can move, which creates a small tear, can happen. I know people say, "how can that pack be a 9, it has a pinhole or tear?" most likely, happened in shipping. In my opinion, PSA needs to come up with a better pack holder. PSA 10 packs are tough to come by. I have 4 wax and one cello.

    http://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistry/alltimeset.aspx?s=104622

    http://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistry/alltimeset.aspx?s=104162

    The other part, is the pack can be authentic, and PSA still not grade it. I am sure Tim can tell stories about that!

    PFB
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