Eye Appeal
 

When did the term "eye appeal" enter the card collecting vernacular?

Back when I was a newly-hatched Ensign in the Navy, my first duty station out of knife-and-fork school was the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. There were about 6 Navy Captains there, a boatload of Commanders, and about 1,000 civilians working for the Navy, with a civilian Technical Director. For situational awareness, they used to hold these command briefings every weekday morning. All officers had to attend. Us junior officers hung out in the back. We came up with a game called "BS Bingo", with your typical bingo card, and all the latest over-used, cliche, executive jargon for words, such as "ramp-up", "spot on", and "off-site", etc. We had our cards, and as the briefer droned on, you would cross off letters until you got a "Bingo!" The seniors never really caught on to us.

So, is "eye appeal" the most over-worked term in card collecting?

Like the points made in another thread, I think eye appeal is all you have to hang your hat on when you get into collecting lower grade cards. I will pay more for one "Poor" over another.

Definition

noun
the quality of appealing to the eye; attractiveness; beauty.

Actually it might be used to much. I am not sure. But I do know when I talk to collectors buying cards many buy the look of the card over the Grade. That is why Cards Graded Authentic often sell for cards Graded with a numeric Grade.

Even Cards Graded with the same grade has different values based upon the "eye appeal" to the collector buying it.

If someone does not like the look or the condition of the card then they will either not buy it or not be willing to pay as much for it since they will not enjoy it as much or value it as much

So it is an accurate term to explain each individuals expression of the way they look at cards

Regardless it does not bother me either way. I know what cards and look I am looking for and it different for others. That is what makes each of our collections our own

154. Poptometrist
Someone who overuses the term “eye appeal” while talking about graded cards.

A homonym of that term:

154 b. Poptometrist

Collector who drones on endlessly about the PSA Population Report statistics (aka "Pop Count") for a certain card. The Poptometrist tends to place particular emphasis on this number when it is advantageous for them to do so, while marginalizing this number when the opposite is true. Most Poptometrists consider themselves sport card "investors." However, they are extremely risk-averse and often resort to questionable tactics (such as fraudulent eBay returns) when their short-term speculation strategy goes awry.

As I (im)patiently struggle to (new word) one-armedly recuperate from my shoulder surgery, I am earnestly working on the next round of 'New Collectorisms.' Stay tuned...

Looking forward to it.

Hope you recovery goes fast and smoothly

You're like Merriam Webster's editors who update their dictionary every year!

Although I agree eye appeal is important, and I use it since I don't buy graded, it does seem that every card is now being listed on ebay as a card with eye appeal. So it has become a word that I read over without paying attention to.

Btw, what was the word last year everyone complained about on this site?

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Eye appeal
 

This is an interesting conversation. I think it goes without saying that there
can be a comparison of 2 of the same card, that each got the same grade by
the same grader- leaving the holder to come up with some way to
differentiate between the 2. One T206 that is an SGC 3 can have more vibrant
front color than the 2nd exact same card, and we can tell by looking it "pops"
more than the other. In private conversations with other collectors about
sales/trades, I will mention which cards grab your attention versus the others.
As long as some seller doesn't say every single card in their inventory has
"great eye appeal", it's just another descriptor for both seller and buyer to
consider. It's an ineffable term for sure, like when US Supreme Court Justice
Potter Stewart was describing pornographic material- "I know it when I see
it". That's how I feel about cards with superior eye appeal. Trent King

I call it the 'I' word and refuse to say it. You can't possibly put on The History Channel or Discovery without hearing it every 5 minutes. Annoys the bajeezus out of me!!! Buy a G-damn thesaurus, TV people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Sandies :
 

" It's an ineffable term for sure, like when US Supreme Court Justice
Potter Stewart was describing pornographic material- "I know it when I see
it". That's how I feel about cards with superior eye appeal." Trent King


..http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...57KKKOUFAX.JPG


...no matter the number up in the top right corner , they both reside on the top shelf of my Brooklyn showcase , because of their Superior E.A....


...

I have the feeling the 'eye appeal' moniker has been around for a long time, probably since the early days of graded cards.

And by the way, the eye appeal on those two Koufax cards is iconic.

Brian (actually...nice cards. Just felt the need to combine the overused duo)

Eye appeal
 

Re: the 2 1957 Koufaxes

Sometimes when I comment, I believe I have covered all the bases. Then
there's a curveball, so I feel compelled to try again. The ineptitude of
certain grading companies is a different issue from eye appeal to a specific
collector. Both of those Koufaxes look good to me. The fact that there is a
SEVEN point difference in their grades is a reflection on the grader, not on
the concept of "eye appeal". I think the initial topic was innocent, and there
is just no doubt that, when 2 cards are put next to one another, one can
grab the attention of the viewer more than the other. "Eye appeal" is just a
shorthand version of a longer explanation for why one looks best- assuming
it's used honestly, of course:) Trent King

eye
 

another term/saying that has changed -

used to be ..you said " Wow, thats a bad look " ...

now its " Oh, its not good optics "

Your Thoughts are Well Said or Looks Good or Sounds Like a PLan

There are two sides to every story, and two sides to every card . . . .

wonder what the backs are like.

The "PSA 1"
 

..the "1" has a tear in the border at 9 o'clock , which normally gets you an automatic "2" , but in this case the tear goes into the picture so it is now an automatic "1"......hey I don't make the rules...

On the other hand , it has GREAT EYE APPEAL !!!...........I'm tempted to consign it to PWCC just to get their award sticker

..
..

And you would be shocked and upset if it didn't get it. That is why I don't send my "high end for the grade" cards to PWCC. I hate putting my trust in what looks good for the grade onto someone else.

Always been around, but the term is basically used for any graded card now.

Also used often: "Clean" "High End" "Undergraded" "Sharp".

Well based on the fact that eye appeal has been widely used as a descriptor for over 100 years, I can't remember a time it was not used in collecting. Particularly for collectors like myself that value centering over any and all other items (corners, creases, etc). My mother began my collecting pursuits due to her avid antiquing and cannot possibly imagine how many times I have heard that term in the auction world.

I personally don't use it as it certainly feels overused, but I can't even place it in the same zip code as my dislike for terms like "poppage", "razor-sharp corners" or "undergraded". Actually when it comes to "pop count", I just generally can't stand any reference at all to PSA population, it's all complete nonsense in my mind and my eyes glaze over the moment it comes into discussion.

I had a dealer, several years ago when I owned one of two known Four Base Hit Kelly's, ask me what the pop count was on it :).

I said snap crackle.....

Damn I thought the correct term was Poptomist. I've been using the wrong term...

I can’t stand “Collector Grade”

What does that mean? Many collectors are different and that’s what this hobby great.

I find collector grade usually means hammered shape.

Personally I like collector grade :)

https://luckeycards.com/t216dougherty.jpg

See also: Glampifying - romanticizing a pile of old cards in bad shape for sale by referring to them as being in “Collector’s Grade.”

Nice Card Leon!

Collector Grade is vague and gray to me.