PSA Flips/Holders - Tracking Changes Over Time

[Bosox Blair]

Style 4

The flip is identical to Style 3. The difference is with the slab - there is now an addition. Now, if you look very closely at the left lower front and left lower reverse of the slab, you can see a reversed numerical character which cannot be felt on the outside of the holder. (It appears to be a raised symbol, but raised on the inside of the slab. I doubt I could capture this with a scan.)

[Bosox Blair]

Style 5

This style is the same as Style 4 in all respects except that the PSA on the top center is skinny - almost as though the "bold" was taken off:

[Bosox Blair]

Style 6

Quite significant changes here. White corners on the flip are now square. The type font is now quite bold/black. "PSA" at top center of flip is changed to what I'll call logo-font. Reverse of the flip - the markings are no longer on the holder. They are now on the reverse of the flip itself, in shiny silver print. There is no hologram anymore:

[Bosox Blair]

Style 7

This is the current style - in effect since about 2008, I believe. The most significant change here is that the numerical grade has been moved down to the line below the letters of the grade. This also coincides with a major change by PSA to use half-grades in their grading system. The font type of the flip is now not as bold/black as it was in Style 6:

Scans in the next post...

[Bosox Blair]

Style 7 scans:

[egbeachley]

Nice job! Maybe this should be one of those threads archived for reference.

[teetwoohsix]

Thanks for showing all of the PSA examples.Most of mine seem to be like examples 6 & 7..........but with all of the changes-this is why I have a hard time being able to spot a "fake flip".
This will be a good thread to refer back to if ever in doubt.
Would it also help to show examples of fake or altered PSA flips in this thread ?Just wondering.

Sincerely,Clayton

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Bosox Blair

Style 4
The flip is identical to Style 3. The difference is with the slab - there is now an addition. Now, if you look very closely at the left lower front and left lower reverse of the slab, you can see a reversed numerical character which cannot be felt on the outside of the holder. (It appears to be a raised symbol, but raised on the inside of the slab. I doubt I could capture this with a scan.)