Curious...when did "7" become the slab "cutoff"?

[wilkcards]

I'm collecting 52 topps in PSA 7+ and personally it's because 6s usually looks like crap to me. Sometimes there are nice looking psa 6 cards, but they're usually further off-center than I like. Also, if I decide to sell them there is room for profit or to at least get my money back. Too much goes to fees on a $20 card.
Also, I feel it would be too easy to get the set in PSA 6.

PSA 7, or better baby!

[fkw]

At arms length a 7 will look just like a 9, but will cost over 75% less.

What would the smart collector collect??




IMO collectors who ONLY want 8 and above are in it for the status of having the best card/set, etc. There are many a 7 that look just as good as any 8 or 9 for a fraction of the cost.

[sportsamerica]

I also think there needs to be talks about investment or collectible.

I also like to purchase 7's, as I find them more affordable and nicer (there are some ugly 7's though). I try to use this as a gauge:

1950's - 7's
1960's - 8's
1970's current 9's

That is what I see as "best buys" for the money...

[JasonL]

mine targets are one grade below yours
For my budget, I target:
1950s = PSA 6
1960s = PSA 7
1970s = PSA 8
1980s+ - PSA 9

[ChiefBenderForever]

For centering I have noticed many 5's are much nicer than a 6 or 7 with only flaw soft corners. Or a nrmt perfect card that is a 5 because of a small corner ding. My only advice is don't get so caught up in the grade you pass up a nice 5 or 6 for way less than a 7 or 8 when they really have no difference.

[JasonL]

I have a 1955 Killebrew RC PSA5 that (to me) looks like a 7+
Now, there is a centering issue, which I acknowledge, but I don't consider it severe-in part because the 1955 card design doesn't call attention to it like a 1961 or 1967 would, but other than that...can't find anything wrong with the card...love it.

[JasonL]

this one is terribly relevant...
I hit the BIN last weekend on a 5-card lot of PSA 7 Ernie Banks cards (1967 through 1971) for $150...I can be happy with $30 each and knocking off a chunk at one time.

Now if I can find someone who will do the same thing for me on Eddie Mathews, we will be all set!!!

[bobafett72]

there are plenty of affordable 6's that looks just as good and you can find 5's that look stunning sometimes.

i much prefer raw cards, but i love finding a stunner in a low grade slab on the cheap

[JasonL]

I recently picked up a couple of 1960s star cards in PSA 5 holders that to me could pass for 7s,...definitely goes both ways, and different aspects appeal to different folks...gotta focus on the card and not the flip.

[ThoseBackPages]

This came in the mail today, leaving me two cards short of his Topps Run ('57 and '52)