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PSA's handling of Printing Abnormalities

I'm a little confused. The "PD" qualifier is supposed to indicate the presence of some kind of printing abnormality, like snow, etc., correct?
Yet, for some reason, if the print abnormality is large enough (e.g., the two examples below), it becomes a "variation" and is given an unqualified grade. Can someone explain the logic in that? A huge black blob is OK, but a print bubble the size of the head of a pin will get slammed.

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Comments

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can't see the pics..


    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.
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,887 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They're showing up for me....it's the 1971 Jim Nash "black blob" and 1971 Jack Hiatt "white circle" cards.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I see them now. There's precedent for that in cases where the same issue appears on multiple cards and is an ink defect from the factory similar to 1973 cards with gap in border.


    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.
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,887 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I understand, but it gets a bit tricky, because I've seen more pedestrian print defects that occur on large batches of the same card too. They just aren't unique enough that anyone would remember/care. They still appear over many cards though, yet they get treated as defects, not variations. Consistency, that bugaboo of small minds!
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    the 72 hank aaron #299 has this. not sure if it's known or considered like the above. when I was looking for mine, it seemed like 40% of the cards had 2 black blobs. one near his belt buckle and one on his right lip. looks like a mole.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,715 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I understand, but it gets a bit tricky, because I've seen more pedestrian print defects that occur on large batches of the same card too. They just aren't unique enough that anyone would remember/care. They still appear over many cards though, yet they get treated as defects, not variations. Consistency, that bugaboo of small minds! >>



    I think you have to look at what kind of defect (or variation) we're talking about and to what extent it affects large numbers of cards consistently and in the same spot. PD like snow or a bubble on the surface of the card as you mentioned in the OP will never be considered a variation, but a defect. Do you have an example of what you would consider a variation but is instead a defect and not considered a variation by PSA? In the examples above, and with the gap in border in 1973 cards, the variations are pretty apparent. Personally, I'm not a big fan of variations, as they often inflate value undeservedly imo, though I know some collectors enjoy them.

    Btw, why isn't the white circle variation noted on the flip? Do all cards bear that mark?


    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.
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,887 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just don't like all the variation stuff, but I guess some people do. When I see eBay auctions like this, I cringe:

    Nash Target Auction
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