Buy the Card, Not the Holder - Altered Edition

1951WheatiesPremium

I bought this one recently. I know my opinion is the only one that counts but I am curious as to the opinions of others, hence the post. One thing I wasn't really aware of is these cards still 'count' on the Registry (it shows up on the PSA Registry App as a '1' though I admittedly haven't started a set - 54T or Him). I'm not much for grades anyway but that has to put this card up there for nicest '1' you'll ever see, right?

1954 Topps #128 Hank Aaron

Thoughts?

Stone193

Not sure I'm seeing your reasoning Tim.

Card's altered.

Can you tell how? Slightly trimmed? Recolored?

Since it "isn't" a 1 - the best I would say is that it's an altered card.

Nicest 1 I've ever seen? Was a T3 Cobb with a pin hole on top - if not for the pin hole? It would've been a 7 worth a buttload of dough according to PSA (well in excess of 50K).

edit: since I'm getting senile - my reasoning can be flawed.

1951WheatiesPremium

@Stone193

No problem, Mike. I was confused, myself, at first as I didn't quite understand, either. But I do now. And what I mean is this:

A card with an 'AA' designation has been altered in some way but 'AA' is not a numerical value. And every card on the PSA Registry has to have a value. Altered cards count just the same as PSA 1's despite the difference in flips. To confirm this, I just published my one card 'set' of Hank Aaron and I am ranked 128. When you pull it up, you'll see this card and in the column where it says 'Grade' you will see the number '1'. My set GPA is also a '1'. My reasoning would be, well, math and the principles of counting.

Perhaps a '0' is a problem for the Registry software? All I know is this was news to me - and rather delightful news, at that.

Here's a link to the Aaron sets but I'm not planning on leaving it up too long (#128 and NEW):

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/baseball/player-sets/hank-aaron-basic-set/publishedfinest/1531

PROMETHIUS88

How do they decide what they will holder as "altered"? I just had a 61 Mantle come back not holdered because it was deemed "altered". It had an eraser mark on it.

1951WheatiesPremium

I think it's about checking the box on the order when you send it. Many people don't like altered cards and don't want them slabbed - for many reasons.

ReggieCleveland

Doesn't look trimmed. Without seeing the back, my guess is there was pencil writing and erasure. Just shooting from the hip.

I've got some pretty nice looking 1's.

Arthur

1951WheatiesPremium

@ReggieCleveland
@Stone193

When I said 'up there for nicest 1', I meant for Hank Aaron cards. And it was a quip to point out what I didn't know - if I didn't have the money for a nice one (I don't) but was chasing the 54T or Aaron set on the Registry, you could do worse when it comes to looks. I was always under the impression that altered cards 'didn't count' towards Registry sets but I was obviously misinformed. Still, seems there's not many fans of it. Oh well, I like it.

And yes, Arthur, those are some gorgeous 1's!

ReggieCleveland

No, I'm right there with you. I didn't know AUTH counted in the registry as a 1 until I read your post. Especially AA. I mean, I can AUTH due to natural causes but including altered cards? Seems weird.

Arthur

Stone193

This was a good discussion.

I have an altered T3 Bobby Wallace - since it looks really nice, I'm gonna have them holder it AA - I didn't request, so they didn't holder it - my bad.

We've had this discussion before and it was understood/decided at that time that one would get a PSA 1 "credit" on a card that actually has no value.

And, another discussion with regards to the registry that has come up from time to time?

If one has a 7OC - and that's a "registry 5" - it doesn't necessarily mean that one can get "5" value return on the card IMO.

I believe eBay'ers have become really fussy about paying an kind of money for an OC?

burghman

Off topic, but relevant to the last post... Hey Mike - as a recent re-entrant to collecting, I've learned a lot from these boards, and one of the overwhelming sentiments from most board members seems to be that OC is one of the mortal sins of a card. As I look to purchase new items for my specific interests, I shy away from anything that isn't centered well, figuring if / when I decide to sell that I'll be in a better position. If there are 2 PSA 8s out there with no qualifiers, I'll typically ignore the OC version and pursue the other one with some other flaw(s).

Of course, when selling time comes the purchasing world may be ambivalent to centering so who really knows what the future holds. But count me among those eBayers that are virtually frowning on the OC offerings out there...

tonylags

I got this 1 which blows my mind recently; which blows my mind; other than maybe min zero or in a screw down holder! I was expecting a 7/8OC

CocoaBeachDodgers

This is located in the Set Registry Rules: It shows exactly what numerical credit you will receive for cards with qualifiers. I also remember reading somewhere that "authentic" labeled cards will receive a numerical value of 1.

Bonus Points and Deductions

Some sets may have bonus points assigned to certain items within a set.

Additionally, the following point deductions are taken for Qualifiers. For example, if your card or ticket is graded PSA 9Q, the grade calculation in the Registry will be 7.

9Q = -2
8Q = -2
7Q = -2
6Q = -2
5Q = -2
4Q = -2
3Q = -1
2Q = -1
1Q & 1.5Q = no deduction

Stone193

@burghman said:
Off topic, but relevant to the last post... Hey Mike - as a recent re-entrant to collecting, I've learned a lot from these boards, and one of the overwhelming sentiments from most board members seems to be that OC is one of the mortal sins of a card. As I look to purchase new items for my specific interests, I shy away from anything that isn't centered well, figuring if / when I decide to sell that I'll be in a better position. If there are 2 PSA 8s out there with no qualifiers, I'll typically ignore the OC version and pursue the other one with some other flaw(s).

Of course, when selling time comes the purchasing world may be ambivalent to centering so who really knows what the future holds. But count me among those eBayers that are virtually frowning on the OC offerings out there...

Pretty much how it is Jim.

I did a thread on 1983 Fleer deconstructed and did point out that as I opened a pack - the "first" thing I looked at was the centering.

I would not have known that about myself had I not given it some thought as I was opening the packs.

A card even 60/40 with minty corners may be discarded for a card 50/50 with 8 to 8.5 corners.

Stone193

@CocoaBeachDodgers said:
This is located in the Set Registry Rules: It shows exactly what numerical credit you will receive for cards with qualifiers. I also remember reading somewhere that "authentic" labeled cards will receive a numerical value of 1.

Bonus Points and Deductions

Some sets may have bonus points assigned to certain items within a set.

Additionally, the following point deductions are taken for Qualifiers. For example, if your card or ticket is graded PSA 9Q, the grade calculation in the Registry will be 7.

9Q = -2
8Q = -2
7Q = -2
6Q = -2
5Q = -2
4Q = -2
3Q = -1
2Q = -1
1Q & 1.5Q = no deduction

Thanx for posting.

I totally forgot the decrease when hitting 3 and lower. I have to say - I don't have any cards in the 3Q arena.

Not because they're not good enough but rather since I'm not a big card collector compared to most here.

Arsenal83

I'd be willing to bet that Reggie garnered the AA grade due to being soaked at one time.