2 Questions/Observations about TPG Grading

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by perezfan

After your very well thought out reply (thanks BTW), this may sound quite elementary....

I do believe that a 1 - 10 grading scale is fine.... certainly no need for more increments. I just feel it should be spread more evenly from grade to grade throughout the scale.

Just a difference of opinion, which is terrific. I guess I just don't see the need for such miniscule/barely detectable differences to have such a giant impact at the top end of the scale. I guess it just is what it is.

I tend to agree with you about wishing there wasn't such a giant impact on the top end of the scale.

Unfortunately, as long as money is a factor, that impact will continue.

As I mentioned in my last post, it pretty much all began in the 1980s. If I were to pin-point the exact time and person, I would say it was Alan Rosen, aka, "Mister Mint". Before him, a few people might have used the term "Gem Mint", but it was Rosen who brought that term into wide-spread use. He used flowery language like "The edges on this card could trim Santa's beard", or "This card's corners could stab you to death". He made a ton of money doing his schtick. That led to higher prices being paid across the board for all cards. Soon after, the hobby exploded in popularity, Upper Deck came around, and the rest is history.

As they say, money is the root of all evil.

Steve

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Steve D

He used flowery language like "The edges on this card could trim Santa's beard", or "This card's corners could stab you to death". He made a ton of money doing his schtick.

Sounds like another guy I know. #saltoftheearth

[Exhibitman]

Cash is king. PSA was started to cash in on the perception--which it fomented with its advertising--that many cards were altered and only the skills of PSA could prevent you from purchasing worthless franken-cards. Seems ironic now...

The grading scale for cards was actually created by a notorious douchebag named Alan Hager, who started the first slabbing company, ASA. You occasionally see a card of his still out there. Hager was notorious for two things: putting his own cards into overgraded ASA slabs and writing a laughable card guide that primarily existed to pump the value of cards in his slabs. PSA paid the licensing fee to get the 1-10 scale; SGC's ancestor did not, which is why it had that 0-100 scale. So the whole business was born of a fraud wrapped in a con.

Since then, PSA and others have further fractionated the point system. If it survives the current scandals I wouldn't be surprised to see a 0-100 true point system some day. All random nonsense, of course, since we all know that a blazing card with a tiny spot of back paper loss is not the equivalent of a beater. It just takes Moser and PWCC to make us all see it again.

[1880nonsports]

has a meaningful spot on my shelves. It was a pretty book for the era :-) Love how he had a sales force dressed in suit and ties with only his tome and overpriced hyped cards in a nice leather briefcase. A known snake oil selling con man from the coin realm turns to the cardboard industry to bury prettied up pigs in plastic cases. Who would have thunk it.