Vertical Centering...Inconsistency?

PaulMaul

I realize that vertical centering is sometimes viewed differently for different issues. But even within the same issue it seems like sometimes there’s inconsistency. I happen to feel the image being slightly low on the card is usually the least offensive form of off-centering so maybe that’s part of it.

The two cards below look identically centered to me. The Kendall is otherwise flawless. They should probably both be 8s I guess (vertical centering looks to be 65/35), but I’ve seen a ton of 1972 9s that look like these.

ETA: Is the Johnson maybe just a tad shorter, improving centering ratio slightly?

ReggieCleveland

I think you got it -- the Johnson is shorter and therefore sneaking it in under the line.

Arthur

ReggieCleveland

I contemplated going with a short Johnson joke but sometimes we have to be the ones that place the balls on the tee.

Arthur

grote15

In my experience, PSA prefers cards centered what we would consider a bit higher vs those centered low.

I would not expect anything higher than an 8 if I were submitting those two cards, and would be delighted with a 9. Both are centered a bit low T/B, IMO.

PaulMaul

@grote15 said:
In my experience, PSA prefers cards centered what we would consider a bit higher vs those centered low.

I would not expect anything higher than an 8 if I were submitting those two cards, and would be delighted with a 9. Both are centered a bit low T/B, IMO.

That may well be. I personally find the low centering more esthetically pleasing than the high in most cases. But I agree I would expect these both to be 8s.

PROMETHIUS88

The 9 is an old holder. Crack and resub I guarantee it comes back an 8.

PaulMaul

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
The 9 is an old holder. Crack and resub I guarantee it comes back an 8.

I agree it would come back an 8 on resub, but not because it’s an old holder, it’s only from like 2015.

Jimmy_Commonpants

Neither of those cards is worse than 65-35 centering. So unless there is some other very minor flaw with the Kendal, both should be a 9. Again, this simply demonstrates the complete subjectivity in grading a card an 8 or a 9. The reason I almost always buy an 8 rather than a 9 or 10.

PaulMaul

@Jimmy_Commonpants said:
Neither of those cards is worse than 65-35 centering. So unless there is some other very minor flaw with the Kendal, both should be a 9. Again, this simply demonstrates the complete subjectivity in grading a card an 8 or a 9. The reason I almost always buy an 8 rather than a 9 or 10.

Well, the idea that a card with 65/35 centering is going to get a 9 these days is a fiction, despite what the published standards say. It may happen once in a blue moon, but I feel like most of the time 65/35 is the borderline between 7 and 8, not 8 and 9.