Question on PSA Grading of 1976 Aaron hand cut card
 

I have a hand cut 1976 Hostess Hank Aaron graded PSA 5 EX that I believe is under-graded. In fact I'd venture to say its the sharpest PSA 5 EX card I've seen.

Comparing this card to other hand cut cards I have rough time understanding why the grade was only a PSA 5. The only flaw I see is the back of the card is slightly off center from left to right.

What am I missing that knocked this card all the way down to a PSA 5 ?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Here is a link to a PSA 10 of the same card:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Hostess...item58afb8488d


Here is a link to a PSA 8 of the same card:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-HOSTESS...item20e0516f4e

The PSA 10 is obviously cut closer to the dotted line then the PSA 8 but I actually find the PSA 8 to be more eye appealing in how the white space on either side of the dotted line look almost perfectly even.

My guess is that the card has a surface wrinkle or some other surface flaw that you're just not seeing.

Crack it out and re-submit. What do you have to lose?

+1

Hostess cards are notorious for having difficult to see wrinkles.

I would also check for light surface scratches which may not be immediately obvious under the lucite which at also have scratches. Remember these were on the bottom of boxes that slid across bread shelves and could incur Dave I'm that way. Many of my 1976 hostess cards have old scratches.

Is there scuffing across the brim of his hat? As others have stated, you may want to resub if you can't find the issue.

Yours is not cut evenly on all sides. Look at the space between the edge of the card and the dotted line on the bottom. The space widens from one side to the other. This gives it the same look as a miscut card. If you think of it as a 7 with a qualifier, it would be quite accurate. Most people who submit these and get high grades are machine cutting them. I agree with you, having a little white around the outside is more eye appealing, however, I think it's easier to get a straight cut (and helps the grader out) when it's cut just along the line like the example in the link you provide.