Getttin' my trade cred up

Stephen helped me cut my 1989 Topps wantlist in half. Then Jeff offers to send me some. I'm now down to just 28 that I'm looking for.

Now Jeff, out of the kindness of his heart (or pity, I don't know which) doesn't want anything in exchange. I don't really have anything on his want list, so, I'll keep my eyes open and see what I can do. I've already sent Stephen his bunch.

And I just sent some out to Dan. In exchange, I've asked that he continue his fine writing. Little did I know that he was pushing the publish post button on one of the best entries that I've read in quite some time. He's already paid me back.

Last Saturday I sent out a small brick to John in the UK. He sent me some cards that I need to blog about, but I thought I'd wait until he got my brick and was satisfied. Then I thought, "Nah, I'll give a preview."

This is what he sent me, with some more cards tossed in. Later, I'll scan these cards individually and give some commentary.

One of the cards he tossed in was a 1970 Topps Earl Wilson (bilingual). The card is bilingual (English-French), not Mr. Wilson.

On the back of that card it lists his career stats. In 1953 he played for Bisbee-Douglas in the Arizona-Texas league. I graduated from high school in that county. Instant connection. Mind you, I've never heard of Earl Wilson. But he played in the same county as I spent some time growing up.

Which led me to find out some more about the Arizona-Texas league, Warren ballpark and Earl Wilson.

Time to take the plunge. There are only about 15 regular issue cards of his during his playing career. I can get those. Ebay was welcoming me with arms wide open.

I found a 1960 Earl Wilson (graded, even) that caught my eye. So I bid and I won.

I'm now the proud owner of an Earl Wilson rookie card.

Okay, this entry started out to be about trying to show that I'm a reliable trader and you need not do a background check on me to know that you'll get your cards. It evolved into the beginning of two other posts, both of which I want to do, but I already have a few ideas in my head that I'd like to get out before Superbowl Sunday.

As I go out to dinner with my wife and daughter this evening I'll try to focus on them and not composing the next post in my head. Then I'll ask if they want to go to a new (to me) card shop in town.

Can someone explain the grading process?

I'm confused about the way that grading services do their business. Not the business of accepting cards to grade, billing and returning the cards. But what is it that they do? What is their process once a card arrives at their place of business?

I'm guessing that they check the paperwork of the order and place the card in a basket of some sort. Some employee verifies that the card in hand is actually what the owner says it is. A T206, not a T205. The card gets scanned or digitally photographed to add to the database.

Then it gets assigned to a grader. Perhaps the graders have a certain expertise (tobacco, prewar, postwar, modern). Perhaps not. The grader examines the card, searches the database to compare it to other (already graded) cards. He makes some notes, assigns a grade.

Perhaps another grader does the same thing, but doesn't have access to the previous grader's assigned grade. In theory, they should give the card the same grade. If they don't, a third grader joins them. No, not an eight year old. He (or she) is the tie breaker. They spend time discussing why they gave the card the grade that they did.

Once a final grade is given, then the card is slabbed, or sealed. The appropriate size holder is selected, a sheet of archival clear 'plastic' film covers the card and then the whole thing is sealed with heat or special infrared microwaves.

Then the card is shipped back to the owner with a report.

I don't know. This is all conjecture. Guesses. I have no idea. It can't happen that way. Too many resources (graders) tied up for a single card. Maybe if it is a T206 Wagner, but not the card of a below average player from 1987.

But looking at ebay, I found some difference in some PSA graded card slabs and therefore the process. I'm not picking on PSA, these are just examples that I found while searching for some PSA graded T212 cards.









The Netzel apparently was an early grade from PSA. The holder doesn't really secure the card. There's a bit of "Saran Wrapping"
















The Orendorff seems to be in the correct holder. All is well with the world. This is what I think a graded card should look like.




















The Perrine is in the correct holder, but I don't know what's up with the "Saran Wrap" look.










These cards are a part of the T212 Obak set. REA has a listing of a 1911 T212 Obak complete set.


Ignorance disclaimer: I have never had a card graded by any professional grading service. I do not own any professionally graded cards. I've seen some in card stores and think that should I buy any older cards on ebay, I'd want them graded. In the proper sized slab.