Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Unopened GAI questions

GuruGuru Posts: 3,127
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
So I have some interest in purchasing some unopened graded packs and it seems that a lot of the ones I come across are GAI, which I know no longer exists (unless I'm incorrect). What do I need to know in purchasing these packs? Seems to me that I recall some stories circulating about fake and resealed packs being graded. Any help or info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Comments

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The vast majority of GAI graded packs, particularly first generation silver flip holdered packs, are perfectly fine. There are some exceptions like the grocery cellos and a number of wax packs that were fabricated from uncut rolls of wrappers (1977 baseball, in particular), but those are notable exceptions to the rule.


    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.
  • cpamikecpamike Posts: 5,566 ✭✭✭
    The older silver flips with cert number starting with 100 and 101 are considered more reliable than the later graded ones. GAI had issues with grading grocery cellos from the early 1970's which turned out to be homemade packs. These packs were mostly graded by Rutter who used the 102 cert number IIRC.

    I will caution that just because a pack was graded within a certain time frame it makes that pack good or bad. Knowing the source of the packs is much more important. There are plenty of good packs with a 102 cert while there are bad ones with the 100 and 101 cert. Not trying to confuse you anymore, but it isn't a black and white answer.
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep."

    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Collecting:
    Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Definitely true regarding knowing what to look for and (if possible) the provenance of the product. GAI has a negative reputation and I certainly wouldn't send them anything now, but they were the only game in town for quite a while and even Steve Hart used to sell GAI graded packs on a regular basis back in the day.


    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.
  • GuruGuru Posts: 3,127
    Some of the ones I've seen lately have 103 and 104. Are these legit?
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Some of the ones I've seen lately have 103 and 104. Are these legit? >>



    As Mike said, there really is no hard and fast rule with regard to cert #s. You have to evaluate each pack on its own merits. There are plenty of packs with those cert #s that are fine, but again, that doesn't mean all of them are.


    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.
  • GuruGuru Posts: 3,127


    << <i>

    << <i>Some of the ones I've seen lately have 103 and 104. Are these legit? >>



    As Mike said, there really is no hard and fast rule with regard to cert #s. You have to evaluate each pack on its own merits. There are plenty of packs with those cert #s that are fine, but again, that doesn't mean all of them are. >>



    Oh man...I hope I'm not trying to get in over my head.
Sign In or Register to comment.