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#2012741 - 11/21/12 04:26 AM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: bbo]

gaugman
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Registered: 04/14/09
Posts: 295
Loc: new jersey

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Originally Posted By: bbo

I've been collecting graded cards since 1999. SGC used to be more lenient on centering, but 2-3 years ago, following a relentless hammering from collectors, SGC tightened up and IMO over-corrected on the centering criterion.

Today, I find much more out-of-spec examples in PSA holders than in SGC holders. It's difficult to change opinion, once it has been set. Therefore, many still adhere to the canard stated by brick (above).

I agree

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#2012787 - 11/22/12 11:47 PM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: gaugman]

BigRedOne
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Registered: 01/21/08
Posts: 974

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Centering. I won't even bother with the other aspects of the card if it doesn't have eye appealing centering first.

John

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#2012806 - 11/23/12 01:58 PM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: BigRedOne]

CTROOP11
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Registered: 04/28/12
Posts: 161
Loc: Toronto,Canada

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Originally Posted By: BigRedOne

Centering. I won't even bother with the other aspects of the card if it doesn't have eye appealing centering first.

John

That's such bs,you going to throw out a 90/10 Mantle that looks pack fresh? Centering is important for grading purposes ,it's not art to put framed in the living room with a big white strip on one side. You going to put a damaged painting on the wall with bad corners ? NOT! I've graded big rookies with off centering and perfect corners,edges and color.
Cards come out of packs off centered, not manhandled and roughed up.
My pet peeve centering is way over valued.
My rant for today.

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#2012815 - 11/23/12 03:27 PM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: CTROOP11]

bbo
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Registered: 02/07/06
Posts: 3102
Loc: Top of the 1959 Registry

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+1 (although 90/10 is pretty extreme and butt ugly for a Mantle)

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#2012840 - 11/23/12 06:50 PM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: bbo]

aconte
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Registered: 02/22/02
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I am in the minority here I think as well. I like the looks of
a pack fresh card and will tolerate some off center qualities
if I can get sharp corners, edges, and clean image.

Also, like bbo, don't want 90/10 or something like that either.
Then I would just keep looking.

aconte

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#2012842 - 11/23/12 11:12 PM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: aconte]

Mintacular
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Registered: 08/19/09
Posts: 1072
Loc: Pittsburgh

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1. Eye appeal. Good color, focus/image, pack-freshness.

2. Surface, no creases (except pre-war), stains, paper loss, or major print defects or o/focus.

3. Then I go to corners, a little even wear is fine but no ugly "ding" or overall sense of worness or handling.

4. Next I go to centering, with more tolerance for t/b being off. L/R I prefer to be be 70/30 or better unless the card has great overall qualities (see above). Of course minimal or no tilt.

5. Edges, no major dings, bonus for natural rough cut.

6. Last, check the back for no major issues.

As for the centering snobs, I guess I'm still on the fence as I originally went for corners over centering but have now erred the other direction. That said, still love a few of my o/c cards:

Also, let's face it. Some of these preferences are influenced by budget...The Maris cost me $200 (+ grading fee) and the same card in psa 8 or 9 that is centered I'm sure would have cost me x5 x10 that cost

Edited by Mintacular (11/23/12 11:37 PM)

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#2012843 - 11/24/12 02:39 AM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: Mintacular]

aconte
Bid more or post more... tough one...

Registered: 02/22/02
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I like that Maris especially compared to most ex
graded ones. The color is very nice and it looks
like it came right out of a pack to that holder.

Nice pickup!

aconte

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#2012844 - 11/24/12 04:05 AM

Re: What quality of a card is most important to you? [Re: aconte]

bbo
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Registered: 02/07/06
Posts: 3102
Loc: Top of the 1959 Registry

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1950 Ted Williams off center
I haven't measured it, but I'd eyeball this to be about 20/80 s/s and 75/25 to 80/20 t/b.

This is a good example for me, although I would grade it a 6 or 6.5. The card is sharp around the edges and corners. The centering is off, but it's not the centering that ruins it for me. It's the focus/register, maybe a double strike. It's so out of focus that you can hardly tell it's Ted. Had the focus been better, this is the kind of card I'd own, in spite of the centering.

I know what BigRedOne is talking about though. If I was building a set of 1950 Bowman, and all the commons were centered, I'd pass on this card for the o/c even if it was focused. But as a stand-alone card, I'd buy the Ted with better focus and same centering.

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