PSA Ticket submission question
 

Hi,

I am predominantly a vintage baseball card collector, but I hope you will allow me to ask for your expertise on submitting a non-sports ticket to PSA. It's a ticket to Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial in 1868. Tickets including the stub are fairly uncommon. I already submitted it in the same holder as I received it. PSA is sending it back as a N9 grade. When I called them, they said it was too fragile to slab. I'm thinking it was because the ticket was secured too tightly in the case shown in the photos below, secured on the sides with staples. The PSA rep suggested resubmitting in a holder that would be easier for PSA to remove the ticket from. I was thinking of sending it back secured in a plastic bag in which the ticket would fit well (then covered tightly on both sides by cardboard for shipping. PSA should have no trouble removing it.

Was wondering if anyone had any thoughts/suggestions to maximize my chances of getting this slabbed. Not looking for a number grade. Just want it authenticated and protected in the holder.

Thanks so much

Adam

Yes the holder dose not meet PSA standards. How big is the ticket? Looks smaller than a postcard. If it is then a postcard penny sleeve and a # 4 card saver sleeve should do the trick. If not then match up the correct penny sleeve and cardsaver case and you should be fine.

PSA says in submission notes that they dont even like hard cases. So something stapled, is just never gonna work for them.
Can I ask why you didn't remove it from the stapled plastic. Is it so fragile you worried it would get damaged if you handled it. If so then my suggestion might need to be modified. I have handled tickets that literally crumbled from being stored poorly. I remember a 1946 Stags ticket that came apart in 4 pices after I took it out of paper envelope it was in. Paper that old esp paper used for a ticket was generally of high quality. But any paper stored poorly can deteriorate over time.

Hi Jonathan,

I didn’t remove it because it seemed secure the way it was shipped, and as a novice submitting tickets, I wasn’t really thinking about how PSA would get the ticket out. But thank you for the submission suggestion.

Adam

If there's no urgency, take it to a paper show like this one and ask those dealers how they would do it.

https://www.allentownpapershow.com/

Staple removers are complex pieces of equipment.

With the average time that this particular opinion seller spends on an item being discussed in another thread as around 38 seconds, I can see why they didn't want to get themselves into a situation involving complex equipment.

Jetsfan : welcome to net54, our version of Fantasy Island. If you are read enough of my posts you will learn quickly that I seldom write in any other than the sarcasm font.

Doug "but at least I didn't cuss this time" Goodman

I nearly lost a finger using a staple remover! Close call.

FPSA.

PSA would have likely sliced it out of the case with an X-acto knife. However, I think the "Fragile" issue is that the stub is nearly separated. So even if you submit in the appropriately sized cardsaver, they may still not take the risk of slabbing the entire piece due to the odds that the stub falls off during the process.

“ the risk.” OMG. :mad:

John,

I was thinking the same thing…that they may not slab it no matter what. I may submit it in something very easy to remove the ticket from and see what they do. Maybe something like a ziploc bag secured by cardboard.

Adam

I collect tickets and have submitted tickets to PSA through the mail and in person at shows. That ticket can be slabbed. The problem is the staples. PSA doesn’t want the liability of having to remove it from that holder with all the staples. Put it in a normal ticket holder and resubmit where they just need to slide the ticket out. You won’t have any issues this time.

Also those tickets are not uncommon. They mainly sell in university auctions. May also want to check RR auctions for past sales as well but I’ve seen various copies of that exact ticket over the years.

I would probably not use either type of staple remover on this. I think I would use a pair of needle nose pliers. The staples are so close to the ticket and that is very stiff plastic. You may wind up bending the ticket. With the pliers you could straighten out the crimped part then, while holding it down, flip it over and either pull out with your fingernails or a screwdriver. One staple at a time, of course.

I also agree that they are not that uncommon. I have seen more than a few over the years. There are currently 4 or more on ebay and one on abebooks.

When I say “rare,” I suppose I overstated it. Yes, they do come up for auction sometimes. But it is far more uncommon to find them with the stub still attached. All the ones I see currently listed on eBay are without the stub.

When they come up at places like RR, they are sometimes adhered to some sort of backing material.

And I will retry the submission with a better holder.

A Ziplock bag between cardboard....
I know you haven't submitted many tickets but have you submitted any cards to PSA? If so how many in a zip lock bag between cardboard. You wouldn't because the card or in this case ticket would be loose in the zip lock bag and could move and be damaged. If you use a bunch of painters ( never clear tape ) tape to secure the bag to the cardboard you again create a situation where damage could occur removing it. The PSA site offers clear suggestions for Submitting. It looks about Postcard size so a PC sized penny sleeve in appropriate card saver between two pices of cardboard with some painters tape to hold it all together, is how most folks would submit this.
You will have to handle the ticket to get it out of current case. While you have it in your hand you can make a decision if you think the paper is to fragile to be encased. Just too tough to tell not in hand. Someone at PSA will make the determination when they have it in their hand. They probably have a better idea how rhe ticket will hold up to the process. When the case is sealed there is a "sonic vibration " that has been know to fracture paper ( Very rarely happens but poor paper quality like strip cards and poor long term storage makes paper very brittle..) But the current process is much less harsh now than it was 10 years ago. So as others have said they will probably encase it IF you get it to them safely.

Hi Jonathan,

I’ve submitted many cards and unopened packs to PSA without issue. The suggestion I was making about the Ziploc bag was I was trying to get it to them in a way where they would feel like they could remove the ticket very safely. But I will undertake the suggestion you and others have provided. Clearly, the better way to go. Thanks.