Grading Question (trying to learn to eyeball it and see if I'm close / what I missed)
PADIdiver
Posts: 133 ✭✭✭
I'm trying to learn more about centering when buying ungraded cards based on scans. I picked up this card recently and to me it looks centered but I'm curious to see what you think as well. The corners aren't good and there's some white showing at the bottom... would this be around a 6 or 7 or would it be lower? I know this card isn't worth anything and I didn't pay much for it but this is more for me to learn.
Thanks in advance!
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Comments
I hate trying to figure out the centering on these things as well. But in my opinion, both T/B and L/R centering looks really good.
Nice centering, but other wear chipping tr ding = PSA 5
Might drop down to a 4.
I agree it looks 5ish without being able to look it over closer.
Nice centering. Probably in the 5 range. If there are hidden wrinkles that don’t show in scan could drop it into the 4’s. Solid looking mid grade card. I think a 6 would be a very generous grade.
4.5
Looks like almost perfect centering to me. That upper right corner really hurts you. I'll say PSA 5.
I would say the ceiling is 5 with plenty of room to go down once you look at it through a loupe.
Arthur
What should I look for in a loupe? Creases, stains, anything else?
Also, I know I won't get this graded as it's only worth a few bucks but would this be an example of something you'd grade at BGS vs PSA because the centering is good so you'd want the higher sub-grade?
The top/bottom centering is perfect and the L/R is just a touch off. Centering alone would be in the 9-10 range. The surface break on the upper right corner along with the chipping on the bottom left corner will take this down to an overall grade of PSA 4. Given the outstanding centering and the bright surface color, it will present as a very nice 4. Overall, nice job on picking this card. I would still grade via PSA if you chose to grade it simply because someone will want it for the registry.
Small surface wrinkles/bubbles. At this card's range there aren't any hairs left to split. But if your goal is to learn about grading then you should start with some cheap modern commons and get an idea for what the differences are between an 8, 9, and 10. It's certainly subjective to some degree but you can also get a feel for what will be acceptable and what won't be. If you can see the imperfection with a loupe, it's almost certainl;y not going to 10, no matter how small it may seem to be.
Arthur
Corners are still generally more important than centering, as long as card isn't too far off center. Centering is more important to some as far as "eye appeal" goes, but a well centered card with soft corners is not going to grade higher than a card with great corners and a little off center. Of course, there is a point where card gets so off-center it will not sell, but you seem to be concerned with grading.
There have been a few threads over the years on centering and generally speaking, if card is going to be off-center, people are a LITTLE more forgiving if it's well centered side to side and a little towards the top.
If you are looking for cards in the "7-8" and above grade, I would say you need the loupe for corners. You can use a regular magnifying glass (I have a lighted one) for card surface, stain, centering and print defects. A good way to check for light creases or wrinkles is to hold the card up in sunlight (or any bright light) and look at it from the "side" so that the light kind of glares off the card, You won't believe what shows up. Your card will have to be great in ALL ways to achieve a high grade, superior centering will not turn a 5 into a 7.
Some here will say you don't need a magnifier, but I like mine and use it/them all the time.
Once you get a good idea of what to look for, check completed ebay auctions and see if the card is worth buying and grading.
Have fun!