now that the dust has settled and graded cards seem to be flooding the market. What are your thoughts now?

I like to collect cards that reputable grading card companies will not likely slab, so if more vintage is under plastic it probably won't effect me.

Brian

I would like to see them try to slab the Cracker Jack Caldwell. The wooden plaque is about 5/8" thick.

Brian

Read my signature below; it says it all about graded cards

I like both, but for my vintage sets, I prefer raw. I crack out the majority of cards in slabs that I buy. The only ones I don't are high value cards. But even with those, I still occasionally crack them out as well.

Nice notes on those backs!

To the top!

Any new thoughts?

No, no one has posted any thoughts on this dead horse topic since Christmas. No one has any new thoughts on this topic on the Postwar side either. There are no new thoughts on this topic. Use the search feature on this site. A guy named Archive will give you plenty to read.

I have had one new thought on this topic...I like my cards graded if they are not raw.

Brian

raw cards
 

I have both, if I get an expensive graded card I might not crack it open but I prefer raw ?

John, great puzzles! Gary, awesome photos!!


graded or raw... slabbed or natural entombed or liberated


I don't want a 9 or a 10 card.

I want one I can touch and I'm not concerned about touching.

My observation, but I notice a lot of people complaining about graded cards entombed, slabed whatever the term used is, then they break them out and then put them right back in an entombed state they feel is not entombed. I also don't understand the term the way they where ment to be. Where they ment to be stuck in binders, sleeves, shoeboxes, tins, safety deposit boxes or any other way of preservation? Where they ment for grown men to handle and smell them? Where they ment to be unknown or different variations worth more money? Where they ment for HOFers with bloated numbers to be more valuable then common players?

Is it a disservice to break them out without letting companies know for other collectors that want that type of information? Why devalue a card not just in terms of monetary, but also authenticity.

Raw vs graded is also funny to me as I see a formula for both, raw is graded, just in a different subjective way. If not why is 1 worth more than another or more desirable graded or raw? People care even if they try not to act like they do. I also don't buy some "don't care" if they're buying a fake even if it's raw. If you love the hobby that should bother you. I couldn't care less if its graded or raw, but I want it to be real regardless and as nice as I can find. Nothing I collect have I ever seen better then mid grade and raw has been less then that. When you're looking at truly rare cards which I am rarer then most HOF cards to be honest I try to find and preserve the best card I can get. Some like them beat up some like them mint some can only afford certain grades, but we all are trying to preserve. I can guarantee that I'm not doing it for an investment other than investing in preservation of a little known common player that I will be donating to the town so future generations can observe the past. I may be mistaken, but most if not all franchises major or minor league have some sort of entombed history including the HOF for every major sport. They seem to understand the importance of entombed treasures.

Nice T207's Gary. The crazing prevalent on these cards drives me nuts.

Regarding Al's original question - I prefer raw over graded. The bulk of my collection is raw; however, the practical implications of having every card raw and realizing this is likely a generational issue has led me to having a number of cards graded.

Attachment 563960

Attachment 563964

Any updates?

This response was posted in error (oops). Sorry.

This response was posted in error (oops). Sorry.

Like others said, raw is great to learn from.

My first 40-50 t206’s commons I bought were raw so I could understand the intricacies of the cards…pull out a loupe and study them.

Now that I have a little better of an understanding (still learning), I feel much more comfortable with the set and would feel better buying raw or graded

I do like graded, because the uniformity of my SGC slabs in all the cards/sets I have pleases me, plus the protection.

Don’t care as much for investment, but it certainly is something to consider for more expensive cards.

Collect how you like, and be confident in your choice.

One of my favorite things to do is buy raw and then grade the card knowing I got a better deal buying the raw than buying a slabbed version in the same grade.

People often forget, it’s a hobby. Enjoy your hobby!

lately on social media/message boards, I see so many graded cards and pelican cases talk everywhere. It makes me wonder if in the future raw cards will be frowned upon by collectors as it seems everyone in the hobby likes psa graded cards! like many of you, growing up, graded cards werent a thing. you had raw cards and raw cards only! I miss that simplicity of collecting. I say that because back then, raw cards were it! nowadays too many people in the hobby are in it to flip and go! meaning tons of fake cards, altered cards, trimmed cards, etc, etc. so graded cards do safe guard these issues somewhat (I know not 100% but thats a whole different topic and a whole different thread!) I love raw cards but dont want to be stiffed with altered fake cards! I almost wish the hobby would go back to raw cards being cool (instead of graded cards being the go too) I know, I know collect what I like, but again. dont want to get stuck with fake cards! make raw cards great again!

Any updates?

Personally...as a 56 yo who has been collecting cardboard almost 50 years...I prefer raw cards. I like to be able to touch them...hold them in my hands...they take up so much less space. I love flipping through my binders 100% more than shuffling cumbersome, "noisy" slabs.

But as happens to all older generations...opinions change. The online community seems to have the opinion that if a high dollar card isn't slabbed...it's fake!

So it's wise to slab high dollar cards when u decide to sell...imo.

Raw cards are still cool but the hobby now is a gamble and business. Take for example Greg Morris look at how well his raw cards sell in all his auctions especially the ones that he grades high or appear to be nice. The reason he gets these numbers is because he buys all these up at the shows so the collector doesn’t really have a chance to buy them from the dealers because he already buys the dealers out people spend a lot in the auctions because they wanna grade everything for that one hit that’s all it takes in their mind to score.

I raw all the time, and if I raw and rare it is even better.


Brian (the big boy version of the normally dinky size R308 Tattoo Orbit is the rare one)

Not sure why anyone would expect updates in just a few months. But I suppose it’s been a few months since the last skirmish in the great raw v graded wars, so we’re due.

Probably not necessary, but for accuracy purposes and in defense of the OP/updater, it has been over 19 months since the previous post.

Brian

HA. Maybe on this thread! But I’m confident we’ve had plenty of other skirmishes on other threads in the interim. Although it does seem like James has been somewhat quiet of late…

.

Agree about Gm. I see his representatives at card show clearing out raw dealers and then getting crazy numbers on his auctions. Capitalism at its finest.

For those buying GM cards and grading them, ask yourself this… if they are so high grade, why isn’t GM grading them? :confused:

100% agree! Im an old school collector but nowadays it does seem that the hobby believes that if a card is raw, then it’s fake (we all know that isn’t always the case, but the hobby has spoken!) seems like so many vintage cards are graded nowadays which is sad because as mentioned above I also like the smell and feel of an old topps card. Nothing like pulling out an old shoebox of raw topps cards in my opinion but I get why the newer hobbyist like graded cards.

Brian VH, are you suggesting that you like your cards raw?! Great cards!! I never get tired of seeing your 1916 Altoona Tribune card of WaJo. Some day, I'm gonna come up with a Wags card that you'd rather have than the Altoona WaJo! :D

Val,

Sorry to say, but that day will only happen after I pass. I apologize.

Now, for two more including three of a kind with one variation on the far right.

Also, a card Val likes.

Brian, are you telling me that if I were to come up with a 1916 Altoona Tribune card of Honus Wagner, you wouldn't trade me your Altoona card of WaJo for it?? :D

You have a beautiful W504 card of Sam Rice that I would love to have. It took me a long time to come up with this poor example of this card, but I'm glad to have it!

raw

Rawer, in a contact with ice cream sort of way.

Brian

My sentiments as well.

:)

Great Cards here Leon !