Auctiva Emporium: MOBILARITY INC FROM STRUGGLE COMES SPORT

anyone see this? GAI Founder Says Company Open for Business, Phones Back on Thursday Nov 13 2007 6:48PM Beckett News by Pepper Hastings Global Authentication Inc., has relocated, is processing orders and is negotiating to have a presence at this weekend's regional collectibles show in Rosemont, Ill., company founder and VP Steve Rocchi told Beckett Media Tuesday night. Rocchi said that all customer orders "are safe, have been safe, and are in our building as I speak." Global (GAI) expects to issue a press release in the coming days detailing additional funding from a venture capitalist outside of the hobby. Rocchi says phone service to GAI offices should be restored by Thursday. He did not know when the company's Website would again be operational. The company received a court-ordered eviction notice last week after negotiations failed with the landlord to settle back payments on the office lease. Rocchi said he had two days to break down the office and vacate, and applauded his employees' loyalty and hard work during the crisis. In his first interview since GAI's hasty relocation, Rocchi said the experience has left him with hundreds of messages each day on his cell phone and surprised at the reaction from the sports collecting community when GAI disappeared from the radar. "I expected some reaction when this happened, but I never expected the firestorm of emotion that I saw," on Internet message boards, blogs and Websites, said Rocchi, the former president of PSA before embarking on founding Global Authentication in February 2002. "Personally, it's been very stressful. But I had a son who was very sick at one time -- he's fine now, thankfully -- but that's stress, having a sick child," Rocchi said. "This is just life. Is it how I wanted it to play out? No. I had a lot to say, but I didn't have any time to communicate it. I didn't want to make a comment until I had some solutions as to where we would be. So here I am talking to you." Rocchi said that when GAI found out it had two days to move that he personally took charge of inventorying all of the customer submissions. "That was the most important aspect of the move. I took care of that myself so I personally knew everything was in order. The rest of the office, our staff was great, they stuck with it, and I couldn't ask for a more dedicated group," he said, citing that head grader Mike Baker and the rest of the GAI staff before the move still is on the payroll. Rocchi said he wants to attend the Chicago Sun-Times show this weekend "to show we are here and everything is fine for the future. I would just like for the people who have dealt with us in the past, they know our reputation. You know my reputation. We are honest people, and we will make good on all orders now and in the future." GAI's new address is now suite 109 at the same street address (232 Avenida Fabricante) in San Clemente. According to the broker for that property, David Bolt of CB Richard Ellis real estate, each suite is "a condo-like structure and each condo is owned by different owners."

The Who's Who of Card Grading by Henry Woodruff In this day and age of sports card collecting, many businesses make their money from selling cards and memorabilia, while others make their profit from grading cards and authenticating memorabilia. Companies such as these, whose main goal is applying consistent grading to some of the most sought-after cards on the market and the authentication of autographs and collectibles, are some of the most respected and profitable companies in the industry, even competing with the major card manufacturers in terms of gross income. Companies such as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) and Global Authentication Inc. (GAI) have come out as the leaders in this coveted service market. Let's take a closer look at each company. PSA is a division of Collectors Universe, a publicly traded company that is one of the few hobby companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. As one of the most respected names in the business, PSA offers a 10-point grading scale from 1 (Poor to Fair) to 10 (Gem Mint) and has graded some of the most rare and valuable treasures in the hobby. Remember the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner that sold for $1.265 million? PSA graded that find an 8, which labeled it as a Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT) card. After leading the way in establishing card grading, PSA continues to come out with new innovations including the PSA Set Registry, which comprises a list of complete or nearly complete sets of players or years of cards graded by PSA for each customer. Some of the nicest sets that have ever been sold have been part of the Set Registry. With a huge milestone of over 10,000 sets now on the Set Registry, PSA has great cause for celebration of one of its most popular features. PSA also authenticates autographs, tickets and other items, making it one of the most diverse companies in the hobby. Collectors enjoy going to www.psacard.com to read the latest articles on card grading, authentication and auction results and to take part in the site's active message boards. However, monitoring of the secondary market reveals that PSA may be falling behind in terms of realized prices to a newer, up-and-coming company, BGS. BGS, another one of the most respected names in the hobby, offers a 10-point grading scale from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Pristine) and increments of one-half point such as 9.5 (Gem Mint). A grade of BGS 10 is one of the rarest treasures in the industry, topping a PSA 10 by an almost exponential amount of money on the secondary market. Another important aspect of BGS’ grading system is the option for collectors to receive a second grade, using a 5-point grading scale, which focuses solely on the quality of the certified autograph found on many modern-era cards. BGS also lets collectors know exactly what is wrong or right with their cards by the inclusion of four sub-grades listed under the final grade. These sub-grades go hand-in-hand with the final grade, meaning you can only get a grade that is between 0.5-1 higher than the lowest sub-grade. For example, if a card has sub-grades of 9.5 for centering and corners, 9 for surface, but 8.5 for edges, the card will receive a grade of 9 (Mint). This has allowed collectors to better understand what characteristics are problems for certain sets and/or years. BGS has arguably become the leading force in the graded-card industry and often outsells PSA cards of the same grade on the secondary market, as many collectors have come to believe that BGS is the hardest company from which to get a high grade. Collectors frequently head to www.beckett.com, home of BGS, to use the site's price guides and take part in its active message boards. But another respected company, SGC, has begun to take a piece of the hobby's service market sector. SGC, a very well-known company who recently reached their 5th anniversary, is a grading company that, like PSA, seems to attract vintage and pre-war collectors, mostly due to the fact that many feel BGS has little expertise with vintage cards. Offering a completely different grading scale than the other main grading companies, SGC uses a 15-point system that begins at 10 (Poor) and goes up to 100 (Pristine). In comparison, a SGC grade of 86 (NM+) corresponds to a BGS grade of 7.5. Some collectors prefer this system which offers a wider range of grades between EX+ and Pristine, so that a SGC 88 (NM/MT) would often be able to garner a premium on the secondary market over a similar SGC 86 (NM+), whereas both cards would likely grade a 7 or 7.5 from the other companies. To some collectors, a grade that begins with an 8 just seems more attractive than a grade with a 7 in front of it and this may be the underlying reason that SGC cards sell better than some of their counterparts from other companies. Watch for SGC to continue to gain ground on both PSA and BGS in the future as more and more collectors head to www.sgccard.com to get their cards graded. GAI, the newest of these card-grading companies, was started by former PSA employees including Stephen Rocchi, the founder and former President of PSA, and Mike Baker, the former Director of Grading of PSA. This helps make GAI one of the most respected companies in the hobby. With a 10-point grading scale and one-half point increments similar to BGS, except that a GAI 10 is called Perfect, it appears to many collectors to just be a copy of the larger company. However, GAI is much more diverse than BGS, with their programs for authentication of Hollywood memorabilia, historical items, autographs and unopened packs of cards at the forefront of their respective fields. Also, with the first cards graded at each level, a certification is issued labeling that card as the "first graded". For example, if you are the first person to submit a 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle and it is the first card to receive a grade of NM-MT 8 from GAI, the company will designate your card as First Graded. This allows for sellers of these cards to receive a small, but welcome, premium over cards that are not considered to be the first graded of their kind. It is these kind of small, but hobby-friendly, details that are making GAI into one of the leading card-grading companies. Look for collectors to visit www.gacard.net more often when they begin to get long-promised features up and running such as population reports and message boards. So, as a collector considering card grading, which company should you use? Here is some additional information about the pricing of each company's services and the additional features they offer that may make your decision easier: Quite frankly, PSA is great for fans of vintage cards and graded sets due to the Set Registry and their experience with older cards. However, in order to directly use the PSA grading service, you must join the PSA Collectors Club by paying a substantial annual membership fee. Then, you must pay an additional amount per card based on the desired service level. These fees often add up for those collectors who only wish to send in a small number of cards each year. However, membership gives you several free card submissions and access to additional features such as the PSA newsletter, the Set Registry, the Sports Market Report (SMR) - a handy printed and online tool that helps collectors know the market value of their PSA graded cards - and population reports that list the quantity of each grade given to a particular card. BGS, on the other hand, does not offer as many additional features to its submitters, but does not charge a yearly membership fee. Instead, collectors pay a set amount per card based on the desired service level, then pay additional fees per card if it is a certified autograph card or a pre-1981 card. The company also provides free access to its population reports. For its part, SGC does not charge any fees except to get cards graded. In addition, they offer free online price guides and population reports, which are valuable tools for any collector. The company also now offers its own set registry and is known to be very responsive to customer inquiries. Their collector-oriented approach makes collectors feel that SGC really cares about its customers and arguably the best grading company for considering the needs of collectors. GAI also does not require an annual membership fee for those just wishing to submit cards for grading, as you simply pay an amount per card based on the desired service level. There is, however, a substantial fee in order to optionally become a GAI Premier Member. By becoming a Premier Member, you receive a number of memorabilia items, several free card submissions and access to their online submission status check and online grade check, which allows members to look at where their submission is in the process including what grades they have received before they actually receive the cards. So, who's the leader of this group? It's a close call between PSA and BGS, but one would likely say PSA due to their extensive experience in card grading, respected name and preference by vintage collectors. This "vintage advantage", according to many in the hobby, is largely due to the overwhelming popularity of the PSA Set Registry. Until the other companies realize how big the graded-set market is, PSA looks like it will retain this advantage. In addition, until the other companies catch up to PSA in terms of volume of older cards, which does not appear likely, the other companies will continue to be outsold simply due to the fact that people will think that PSA has more experience with older cards. It is similar to following the crowd. If a collector or even just a random person sees a high number of PSA cards listed on eBay compared to BGS, SGC or GAI, they are obviously more likely to go with PSA if they have to make that choice. In the end, you should simply look over the web sites, service levels, pricing and additional features for each company and choose the one that best meets your particular collecting needs and budget. Each of these companies is respected and likely to make your move into the graded-card world a positive experience.

JOIN THE NEW COLLECTORS CLUB PSA is pleased to offer the A Portrait of Baseball Photography as a benefit to joining the PSA Collectors Club. FREE grading submissions alone more than pay for your cost of membership! PSA Collectors Club is the one organization in the hobby that is dedicated to supporting your collecting activities and to saving you money. And it keeps getting better from there... * Call PSA Customer Service (800) 325-1121 for renewal specials! Gold Level Membership $99 membership package*** JOIN | RENEW | MORE INFO Platinum Level Membership $179 membership package*** JOIN | RENEW | MORE INFO GOLD MEMBERSHIP (1 Year) $99 ***Plus $5 S&H Fee Direct Submission Privileges to All PSA Grading Services for One Year A voucher for 6 Submissions - 7 Business Day Turnaround (All 6 cards must be submitted at the same time. Maximum value per card allowed is under $500 each.) $105 Value. Tickets, Supersized Cards, T3's and Autographed Cards* are not allowed on this voucher. 1-Year Subscription to the Sports Market Report (SMR) $49 Value A Portrait of Baseball Photography $19.99 Value 1-Year subscription to the PSA Population ReportSM and SMR Online $39.50 Value Monthly Grading Specials PSA Bi-Weekly eZine Participation in the PSA Set Registry Online Submission Status Check Participation on the PSA Message Boards** Total Package Value $238.49 Join at the Gold Level ($99 US or $120 Int'l) PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP (2 Years) $179 ***Plus $5 S&H Fee Direct Submission Privileges to All PSA Grading Services for Two Years A voucher for 12 Submissions - 7 Business Day Turnaround (All 12 cards must be submitted at the same time. Maximum value per card allowed is under $500 each.) $210 Value. Tickets, Supersized Cards, T3's and Autographed Cards* are not allowed on this voucher. 2-Year Subscription to the Sports Market Report (SMR) $98.00 Value A Portrait of Baseball Photography $19.99 Value 2-Year subscription to the PSA Population ReportSM and SMR Online $79.00 Value Monthly Grading Specials PSA Bi-Weekly eZine Participation in the PSA Set Registry Online Submission Status Check Participation on the PSA Message Boards** Total Package Value $441.99 Join at the Platinum Level ($179 US or $220 Int'l) * Autographed cards from the manufacturer from 1998 to present are allowed on this voucher. All other autographed cards must be submitted under the Autographed Card Grading and Authentication service. ** Must register for Message Board directly. *** All memberships add a $5 S&H fee to total cost PSA, Professional Sports Authenticator ® P.O. Box 6180 Newport Beach, CA 92658 Tele: (800) 325-1121, (949) 833-8824 Fax: (949) 833-7660 [email protected] A Division of Collectors Universe

PSA Card Grading Standards GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card. The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse. MINT 9: Mint. A PSA Mint 9 is a superb condition card that exhibits only one of the following minor flaws: a very slight wax stain on reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint. A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. NM 7: Near Mint. A PSA NM 7 is a card with just a slight surface wear visible upon close inspection. There may be slight fraying on some corners. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. A minor printing blemish is acceptable. Slight wax staining is acceptable on the back of the card only. Most of the original gloss is retained. Centering must be approximately 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back. EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint. A PSA EX-MT 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal. A very light scratch may be detected only upon close inspection. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may show some loss of original gloss, may have minor wax stain on reverse, may exhibit very slight notching on edges and may also show some off-whiteness on borders. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. EX 5: Excellent. Excellent On PSA EX-5 cards, very minor rounding of the corners is becoming evident. Surface wear or printing defects are more visible. There may be minor chipping on edges. Loss of original gloss will be more apparent. Focus of picture may be slightly out-of-register. Several light scratches may be visible upon close inspection, but do not detract from the appeal of the card. Card may show some off-whiteness of borders. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back. VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent. A PSA VG-EX 4 card's corners may be slightly rounded. Surface wear is noticeable but modest. The card may have light scuffing or light scratches. Some original gloss will be retained. Borders may be slightly off-white. A light crease may be visible. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back. VG 3: Very Good. A PSA VG 3 card reveals some rounding of the corners, though not extreme. Some surface wear will be apparent, along with possible light scuffing or light scratches. Focus may be somewhat off-register and edges may exhibit noticeable wear. Much, but not all, of the card's original gloss will be lost. Borders may be somewhat yellowed and/or discolored. A crease may be visible. Printing defects are possible. Slight stain may show on obverse and wax staining on reverse may be more prominent. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back. GOOD 2: Good. A PSA Good 2 card's corners show accelerated rounding and surface wear is starting to become obvious. A good card may have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of enamel on obverse. There may be several creases. Original gloss may be completely absent. Card may show considerable discoloration. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back. PR-FR 1: Poor to Fair. Poor to Fair A PSA PR-FR 1 card's corners will show extreme wear, possibly affecting framing of picture. Surface of card will show advanced stages of wear, including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping and staining. Picture will possibly be quite out-of-register and borders may have become brown and dirty. May have one or more heavy creases. A Poor card may be missing one or more small pieces, have major creasing and extreme discoloration or dirtiness throughout. Card may show noticeable warping. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUALIFIERS: PSA will grade nearly every card submitted. Cards having significant flaws will receive "qualified" grades as follows: OC (Off Center): When the centering of the card falls below the minimum standard for that grade will be designated "OC." PSA determines centering by comparing the measurements of the borders from left to right and top to bottom. The centering is designated as the percent of difference at the most off-center part of the card. A 5% leeway is given to the front centering minimum standards for cards which grade NM 7 or better. For example, a card which meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 60/40 off-center on the front automatically meets the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9. If a card meets all of the other requirements for PSA MINT 9 and measures 65/35 off-center on the front, it may be deemed to meet the PSA front centering standards for MINT 9 if the eye appeal of the card is good. ST (Staining): ) Cards with staining below the minimum standards for the grade will be designated "ST." PD (Print Defect): Cards with significant printing defects will be designated "PD." OF (Out of Focus): Cards with focus below the minimum standards for the grade will be designated "OF." MK (Marks): Cards with writing, ink marks, pencil marks, etc. will be designated "MK." MC (Miscut): ): Cards with a factory miscut, such as a diamond cut, or when another card's image is on the original card will be designated "MC." UNGRADEABLE CARDS: PSA will not grade cards which bear evidence of trimming, re-coloring, restoration, or any other forms of tampering, or are of questionable authenticity. In addition, PSA does not grade autographed cards dated earlier than 1998 or any cards manufactured by Star except Star Baseball & 1996 Star Topps (reprint) Basketball Cards; only factory imprint signatures can be graded. The Grading of Hand Cut Cards PSA will grade virtually any card that has been hand-cut off of a panel, box, etc. (Post Cereal, Hostess, Bazooka, Strip cards, etc.) keeping the following information in mind. This service does not include traditional sheet-cut cards. PSA will not grade cards cut from sheets that can be obtained in a normal fashion. For example, PSA will not grade a 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky card cut from a sheet because that card was issued in non-sheet form. On the other hand, PSA will grade a 1959 Bazooka or 1961 Post Cereal Mickey Mantle because those cards could only be obtained in one fashion - removed by hand from a box or panel. In order for PSA to actually assign a grade to any of the cards that possess visible/defined borders on all four sides, evidence of that border must be present. If the cut exceeds the visible border for the card in question, PSA will encapsulate the card as "Authentic" only. If the card is severely undersized and suffers in overall eye-appeal, the graders may deem the card not suitable for authentication or reject the card as minimum sized altogether. Keep in mind that, for cards that do not possess visible/defined borders, the cards must still fall within a certain size requirement for that particular issue in order to qualify for an actual grade. In other words, the borders must be virtually full in order for a grade to be rendered. Otherwise, as stated above, a label of "Authentic" will be assigned or, in some cases, the cards may fall short of the size requirement altogether. This is not an exact science, however, PSA will do its best to provide consistent guidelines for these types of cards. In addition, PSA will allow cards that have had a coupon or tab removed from the original card to be submitted under this service. For example, if a 1952 Red Man Tobacco card is cut at or outside of the established tab line, the card would be eligible to receive a numerical grade. On the other hand, if the 1952 Red Man Tobacco card is cut inside of the line (the line where the tab meets the interior of the card), then the PSA graders will be precluded from entering a numerical grade. Cards that are cut within the limits established for a particular issue will be encapsulated and designated as “authentic” by PSA. All of the cards eligible for this service will be designated as “Hand-Cut” on the PSA label to distinguish them from the intact, “with tab” or “with coupon” examples. PSA suggests that, in order to achieve the highest grades, the cuts of the cards should be relatively close to the visible borders without exceeding the limit. Cards that exhibit a clean, accurate and properly shaped cut have the best chance at achieving the highest grades. Eye-appeal is very important. When it comes to excess paper or cardboard around the edges of the visible borders, the graders will place significant importance on overall eye-appeal. Keep in mind that all cards of this type will be designated as "Hand-Cut" on the PSA label for accuracy. In addition, if the customer chooses, PSA will grade and encapsulate entire panels if those panels will fit in any of our current PSA holders. With the exception of the aforementioned items, normal grading criteria will apply. The Grading Approach to Pins/Coins The grading of pins or coins often comes down to the strength or weakness of the eye-appeal since the material in question is far less susceptible to wear than cardboard or paper. The areas/defects that PSA graders focus on include but are not limited to: scratches, dents, severity of rust (if present), centering of the picture (obverse and reverse), compression of the pin/coin, the overall condition of the paper (if present) on the reverse and overall print quality. Since collectible coins/pins often differ in their make-up, sometimes greatly, it is very difficult to apply one uniform grading standard to all collectibles that fall into this category. The factors above represent the basic, key elements in the PSA grading approach. NO GRADE DEFINITIONS If the grade of your card is available and is listed with one of the following grades, this card was determined to be un-gradable for the following reasons. N-1 Evidence of Trimming - When a card’s edge has been altered, a card doctor may use scissors, scalpel, cutter, or any other cutting instrument. A trimmed card may show one of the following: Hook up or down, have one razor sharp edge, a difference in toning along the edge, a wavy look. N-2 Evidence of Restoration - When a card’s paper stock is built up - for example, when ripped corners are built up to look like new corners. N-3 Evidence of Recoloration - Where a card’s color has been artificially improved. N-4 Questionable Authenticity - This is the term used when a card is counterfeit. N-5 Altered Stock - This term is used when the paper stock is altered in one or more of the following ways: Stretching and trimming, recoloring and restoring, trimming and recoloring, restoring an trimming, crease or wrinkle is pressed out, or gloss is enhanced. N-6 Minimum Size Requirement - When a card is significantly undersized according to factory specifications. You will be given a voucher good for another submission for the same type of service. N-7 Evidence of Cleaning - When a whitener is used to whiten borders or a solution is used to remove wax, candy, gum or tobacco stains. N-8 Miscut - This term is used when the factory cut is an abnormal cut. The grading fees are returned. You will be given a voucher good for another submission for the same type of service. N-9 Don't Grade - When we do not grade an issue. The cards may be oversized or an obscure issue. The grading fees are refunded. You will be given a voucher good for another submission for the same type of service. N-0 Authentic Only - This means that PSA is only certifying that the item is genuine, without a numerical grade. This may be due to the existence of an alteration, one with malice or otherwise, a major defect or the original submitter may have requested that PSA encapsulate the card without a grade. The "Authentic" label means that the item, in our opinion, is real but nothing more. The Importance of Eye-Appeal and Subjectivity in Grading Over the years, more and more collectors have come to understand the basic guidelines behind PSA grading. After grading for well over a decade, PSA grading standards have truly become the official standard for the most valuable cards in the hobby. That being said, there are a host of grading questions that arise and the one basic question that comes up the most has to do with eye-appeal and centering. While it's true that a large part of grading is objective (locating print defects, staining, surface wrinkles, measuring centering, etc.), the other component of grading is somewhat subjective. The best way to define the subjective element is to do so by posing a question: What will the market accept for this particular issue? Again, the vast majority of grading is applied with a basic, objective standard but no one can ignore the small (yet sometimes significant) subjective element. This issue will usually arise when centering and/or eye-appeal are in question. For example, while most cards fall clearly within the centering guidelines for a particular grade, some cards fall either just within or just outside the printed centering standards. The key point to remember is that the graders reserve the right, based on the strength or weakness of the eye-appeal, to make a judgment call on the grade of a particular card. What does this mean exactly? Well, take this example. Let's say you have a 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie card that is right on the edge of the acceptable guidelines for centering in a particular grade. The 1955 Koufax card has a yellow background that tends to blend with the border of the card. In other words, the contrast isn't great so poor centering may not be much of an eyesore - the borders are not clearly defined. In this case, if the card exhibits extremely strong characteristics in other areas (color, corners, etc.), an exception may be made to allow an otherwise slightly off-center card to fall within an unqualified grade (no OC qualifier). This is a rare occurrence but it does happen. On the other hand, there are cards that technically fall within the printed PSA Grading Standards that may be prevented from reaching a particular, unqualified grade because the eye-appeal becomes an issue. For example, a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax card has great contrast between the white borders and the picture because the background is very dark. It is possible that a 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax, one that technically measures for a particular grade - let's say 70/30, may be prevented from reaching that unqualified grade because the market would view that card as off-center - based on eye-appeal issues. Again, this is a rare occurrence but it does happen from time to time when a judgment call has to be made on a card that pushes the limits for centering. In conclusion, the issues discussed do not apply to the vast majority of cards that filter through the PSA grading process each day but this is an issue that needed some clarification in the marketplace. The bottom line is that there are times when a PSA grader must make a call on a card that falls on the line between two grades and that final determination is made based on experience, eye-appeal and market acceptability. PSA Ticket Grading Standards FULL TICKETS GEM-MT 10:Gem Mint. Attributes include four sharp corners, centering of approximately 55/45 to 60/40 or better on the front and back of the ticket, sharp focus and virtually full original gloss. The ticket must be free of staining; however, an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the ticket. No punctures or holes may be present with the exception of those that are obviously required on the ticket by the management of the ballpark or event venue; such as preexisting hole punches for "Comp" or "VIP" tickets or "punches" that are required on some premium tickets for "special entry" or specific venue services. Ticket printing quality of crucial game information must be in the "Medium/Dark to Dark" range in order to qualify for this grade. In other words, noticeable fading may prevent a ticket from reaching Gem Mint status. MINT 9: Mint. Quality must be very close in nature to a Gem Mint 10 but the following allowances may be made. Very light "touches" at one of the corners may be acceptable so long as the corner integrity remains intact. A slight surface "dimple" may be allowed if extremely limited. NM-MT 8: Near Mint -Mint. A ticket of this quality will appear to be a Mint 9 at first glance but one of the following additional defects may be present. Very light "touches" at two corners, apparent to the naked eye, would be acceptable under this standard. A very slight surface abrasion or evidence of modest surface damage, on the front or back, may be acceptable if limited. For instance, a faint impression from a paper clip would be an example of this type of acceptable defect. "Medium to Medium/Dark" printing of crucial game information is required. Centering must fall within approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and back. NM 7: Near Mint. A ticket of this quality will appear to be a NM-MT 8 at first glance but one of the following additional defects may be present. Beyond light corner "touches" evident at up to all four corners, minor fraying may be present at up to two corners as long as the integrity of the each corner remains intact. The ticket may show slight staining in a limited area. Two light surface abrasions may be present. Here, a minor printing defect may be acceptable. Graphic or text focus may be slightly out of register. A very slight loss of original gloss may be acceptable. Centering must fall within approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and back. EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint. Quality must be very close in nature to a NM 7, but up to two of the following allowances may be made: Fraying may be present on up to three corners. A very light surface crease may be present. Two or three light surface abrasions may be present. A minor printing defect is acceptable, such as "out of register" focus of graphic or text elements. Minor loss of original gloss may be acceptable. Centering, as in an EX-MT 6, must be 70/30 or better, on the front and back. EX 5: Excellent. A ticket of this quality may appear to be an EX-MT6 at first glance, but up to two of the following additional defects may be present: Fraying may be present on up to all four corners. One light-to-medium surface crease may be present. The ticket may show some obvious staining in a limited area on the front or back. Two to three surface abrasions may be present. One or two minor printing defects may be noted, such as a graphic element or text focus that is slightly out of register. Visible loss of original gloss may be acceptable. Some surface paper loss, resulting from prior gluing or taping of the ticket to an album page, for example, may be acceptable and is restricted to the back of the ticket. VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent. A ticket of this quality will appear to be an EX 5 at first glance, but up to two of the following additional defects may be present: Two light-to-medium surface creases may be present. A fold or full crease that does not cross the entire ticket may be present. The ticket may show some obvious, mid-range to dark staining in a limited area on the front or back. Defects such as general wear; print defects, loss of original gloss and paper loss on the reverse may be slightly more severe. VG 3: Very Good. Quality must be close in nature to a VG-EX4, but up to two of the following additional defects may be present: All of the ticket's corners, and in some instances the ticket's edges, may exhibit noticeable to pronounced wear. The surface quality may be subject to three or more light-to-medium surface creases; this ticket may also show some warping. A fold or full crease may exist and extend or cross over the entire ticket. Several surface scratches may exist. One or two non-game related punctures or holes may be present. Medium-to-heavy staining, and/or loss of print in one to two areas, on the front or back, may exist. Discoloration as in "yellowing" or fading of original ink color or very slight darkening in the case of thermal-type paper stock ticket, over most or all of the front and/or back of the ticket may be observed. Original gloss may be entirely absent. Some surface paper loss may be visible on the front or back of the ticket. Defects such as general wear, print defects, and loss of original gloss may be slightly more severe. GOOD 2: Good. A PSA Good 2 must be close in nature to a VG 3, but up to two of the following additional defects may be present: Two or more medium-to-heavy surface creases may be present, this ticket may also show noticeable warping. Up to two folds or full creases may exist, and each one may extend or cross the entire ticket. Multiple and deep surface scratching may exist. Three non-game related punctures or holes may be present. The original gloss may be entirely absent. Defects such as general wear; print defects, staining, paper loss and fading of original ink may be slightly more severe. PR-FR 1: Poor to Fair. A PSA PR-FR 1 will appear obviously abused: The ticket's corners and edges, exhibit pronounced and extreme wear. Multiple creases, scratches, non-game related punctures and extreme warping may be present. . Heavy staining, paper loss, fading and numerous print defects may be present. STUBS The same basic criteria (as for full tickets) apply to stubs, with the additional tearing/removal factor of the "audit stub" (by the gate attendant) or, in some cases, a "fan stub." The shape and severity of the tear/removal of the stub, with all other condition qualities being equal, may affect the final grade of a stub. As expected, the more severe and less defined the tear/removal, the lower the grade of the stub. In some cases, no excess tearing (beyond the acceptable limits for a stub) will be allowed within a particular grade. For example, a PSA Gem Mint 10 "fan stub" may not exhibit any evidence of excess tearing at all. Submitters will have the option of choosing not to have a grade assigned to the tickets and, instead, merely have the tickets authenticated and encapsulated. Those tickets will be labeled "AUTHENTIC." Graders also reserve the right, based on eye-appeal, not to render a grade on a severely damaged ticket stub and, instead, apply the "AUTHENTIC" label. That way, the ticket is authenticated and protected in the PSA holder - it simply is void of a specific grade. QUALIFIERS PSA will grade nearly every authentic ticket submitted. Tickets having significant flaws will receive a "qualified" grade as follows: OC (Off Center): When the centering of the ticket falls below the minimum standard for that grade will be designated "OC". PSA determines centering by comparing the measurements of the borders from left to right and top to bottom. The centering is designated as the percent of difference at the most off-center part of the ticket. Some small leeway may be given to a ticket if the eye-appeal is strong. For example, a ticket that may technically fall outside the range of acceptable centering for the grade may still qualify for that grade if the eye-appeal is good. ST (Staining): Tickets with staining below the minimum standards for the grade will be designated "ST". PD (Print Defect): Tickets with significant printing defects will be designated "PD". OF (Out of Focus): Tickets with focus below the minimum standards for the grade will be designate "OF". MK (Marks): ): Tickets with writing, ink marks, pencil marks, etc. will be designated "MK". MC (Miscut): Tickets with a factory miscut, such as a diamond cut, or when another ticket's image is on the original ticket will be designated "MC". A NOTE ABOUT TICKET GRADING Please keep in mind that ticket grading is based, in part, on eye-appeal. That being said, there is some degree of subjectivity applied to the ticket grading process based on the strength or weakness of the overall eye-appeal. A Note About the PSA Ticket Price Guide All listed prices are for Season tickets, unless otherwise specifically noted. Box office and third party issued tickets are generally of less value and, in some cases, significantly less value. The term "Stub" always refers to the "Fan Stub" with the Rain Check portion attached if one exists; the term never refers to the "Gate" or "Audit" stub. PSA Pack Grading Standards GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint. A PSA Gem Mint 10 pack is a virtually perfect pack that should exhibit pristine corners and edges, which are free of any holes, tears or wear of any sort (including not having any wear to the corner folds). The seal on the reverse must be virtually undisturbed and free of any soiling or toning. The sealed folds on the reverse must also lay flush to the pack and not exhibit any lift from the seal. In addition, the pack must be "fresh" in appearance and free of any water or mildew damage to the wrapper or gum in order to qualify for this grade. There may be an allowance made for a small printing imperfection as long as the pack still shows superb eye appeal. Note: The top card within a cello pack must be centered approximately 65/35 or better. MINT 9: Mint. A PSA Mint 9 pack is a pack that appears to have all the attributes of a PSA Gem Mint 10 but it may exhibit one of the following flaws: a slight touch of wear on one corner (absent a hole or tear in the wrapper), minor toning or soiling to the seal on the reverse or a slight centering imperfection to the wrap. In addition, the pack must be "fresh" in appearance and free of any water or mildew damage to the wrapper or gum in order to qualify for this grade. Note: The top card within a cello pack must be centered approximately 80-20 or better. NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint. A PSA NM-MT 8 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA Mint 9 but it may possess one or more of the following technical imperfections upon close inspection: Slight wear at one or two corners, a pin-sized hole at one of the corners, a wrinkle in the surface of the wax/cellophane wrapping, slight toning or soiling on the seal, very slight toning of the wrapper itself and/or a slight centering imperfection to the wrap. In addition, the pack must be "fresh" in appearance and free of any water or mildew damage to the wrapper or gum in order to qualify for this grade. Note: The top card within a cello pack must be centered approximately 90/10 or better. NM 7: Near Mint. A PSA NM 7 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA NM-MT 8 but it may possess one or more of the following flaws: There may be slight wear on all four corners, a few pin-hole sized tears on the corners or edges, a very minor tear in the wrapper itself, light toning or soiling on the seal, and/or a small stain, possibly due to water or mildew damage. A small allowance may be made for very light gum bleeding or soiling through the wrapper, not to reach the size of the gum contained within. Note: This is also the highest grade a cello pack can receive if the top card is 100/0(miscut). Note: This is the highest grade a pack can receive if the wax wrapper is a complete manufacturer miswrap, where there is a severe centering imperfection to the wrap. PSA EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint. A PSA EX-MT 6 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA NM 7 but it may possess one or more of the following flaws: Wear may be present on all four corners and/or the pack may show light tearing on multiple corners. In addition, the pack may exhibit light tears on the edges of the wrappers, wrinkles on the surface of the wax/cellophane wrapper along with other types of small surface defects. The reverse seal may have soiling or toning as a result of water or mildew damage, as long as it is not deemed severe. The gum or wax wrapper can begin to show bleeding or soiling through the wrapper, but it must be limited to the size of the gum. PSA EX 5: Excellent. A PSA EX 5 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA EX-MT 6 but it may possess one of more of the following flaws: Wear may be present on all four corners along with one or two clear corner tears and/or edge tears. Under this grade, a pack may exhibit staining or discoloration of the wrapper, possibly due to water or mildew damage. The surface of a cello pack may exhibit a large split through the protective wrapping. That wrapping may also be misaligned but, in order to qualify under this grade, a sizeable portion of the seal must remain secure. In addition, the surface of the wrapper may show soiling damage from the gum or wax. PSA VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent. A PSA VG-EX 4 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA EX 5 but it may possess one or more of the following flaws: Wear will, most likely, be present on all four corners along with holes and/or tears on the corners and edges. A severe tear to one of the edges may be acceptable under this grade. The seal may be misaligned and partly raised but a somewhat sizeable portion of that original seal must remain intact. The surface of the pack may exhibit some discoloration, staining or soiling, possibly due to water or mildew damage. A cello pack may have a couple of severe splits through the protective wrapping as long as all the contained cards are held securely in their package. PSA VG 3: Very Good. A PSA VG 3 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA VG-EX 4 but it may possess some additional, severe flaws such as moderate tears on all four corners and along the edges. The seal may be heavily worn and the pack may be visibly soiled. The surface can be discolored, stained and have heavy mildew damage that begins to bleed from the surface of the wrapper into the edges of the pack. PSA Good 2: Good. A PSA Good 2 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA VG 3 but it may possess some additional, severe flaws. Major tears may appear on all four corners and along the edges. The seal may have heavy soiling or even residue from a foreign source, which hinders the eye-appeal substantially. The corners and edges of the contained cards may be exposed; however, the cards must still be held in place by the package and cannot show any evidence of removal. PSA PR-FR 1: Poor to Fair. A PSA PR-FR 1 pack is a pack that exhibits similar attributes to a PSA Good 2 but it may possess some additional, severe flaws. Severe water damage may be present where it has seeped into the pack itself, affecting the cards contained within. In fact, the pack may show signs of warping as a result of the water damage. The wrapper may not be completely legible from staining, discoloration or other wear and tear but it must remain legible enough for the experts to determine authenticity. In addition, while the pack itself may be severely damaged, some portion of the original seal must be intact. The PSA Unopened Pack Grading Approach First and foremost, authentication is the most crucial step to the PSA grading process. With the prices generated by unopened packs in the marketplace, most notably in relation to vintage material, resealing and the outright counterfeiting of packs have been major industry problems. PSA will not grade any pack that has been deemed by the experts to be resealed, repaired or altered in any way. If a pack cannot pass this first step in the PSA process, the packs will not be eligible for encapsulation. The Importance of Eye-Appeal The eye-appeal factor is virtually as important to pack grading as it is to the approach used in trading card grading. There are, however, some unique condition obstacles that many packs are subject to. These include but are not limited to obstacles such as gum and/or wax residue that can alter the overall freshness of a pack and, in turn, hinder the grade. The presence of defects like mildew staining and gum or wax bleeding can lower the technical grade and detract from the overall eye appeal, depending on the severity. In addition, while the centering of a pack wrapper is important, the pack grading approach does not view wrap centering in terms of percentages. The key factor, regardless of the technical measurement of the centering, is whether or not the centering (or lack thereof) of the wrap affects the overall eye-appeal. There are instances where wrapper centering issues are the norm. Packs found from the 1977 Topps football issue provide great examples of this frequently-seen problem. The wrappers designed for that product clearly do not fit the way that most factory wrappers should. So, in a case like this, the pack graders will take that particular year into consideration before rendering their opinion. As long as the wrapper isn't a complete miswrap or entirely defective, then the centering of a wax wrapper should not hinder the grade substantially unless it affects the overall eye-appeal. PSA, Professional Sports Authenticator ® P.O. Box 6180 Newport Beach, CA 92658 Tele: (800) 325-1121, (949) 833-8824 Fax: (949) 833-7660 [email protected] A Division of Collectors Universe

Today there are 30811 sets registered. Grading Special $13 per card/5 business days The interactive PSA SET REGISTRYSM consists of the world's finest card, ticket and autographed collections. If you are proud of your valuable collection, you are a potential member. Collecting sets is fun, exciting and also rewarding. Obtaining high quality cards, tickets and autographs is not always an easy task and depending on the type of set you build, could take years of effort. The PSA SET REGISTRYSM is dedicated to those who have collected the best. Click here or on the link above to register your set online. If you have a set that is not currently offered in the Registry, or if you have any suggestions on how we might expand and improve the PSA SET REGISTRYSM, we would like to hear from you. We want to make the Registry available for all collectors, so any ideas you may have on the type of collection you would like to see in the Registry would be gladly accepted. Please contact us at [email protected] PSA, Professional Sports Authenticator ® P.O. Box 6180 Newport Beach, CA 92658 Tele: (800) 325-1121, (949) 833-8824 Fax: (949) 833-7660 [email protected] A Division of Collectors Uni

Choose From These Quality Beckett Grading Products How much does grading cost? Submit cards now! A high-quality sports card grading service for cards ages 1981 to present. BGS is the leader in sports card grading because it is a name you can trust. Quality grading service for your modern cards Internal sleeve for maximum protection Half-point grading scale for more precise assessment Online Population Report available 24/7 Detailed Report Card providing specific information on why your card received its final grade On-time, every time guarantee Vintage cards deserve a vintage service. BVG allows for 1980 and prior sports cards to be graded with the respect and attention they deserve. Quality vintage grading service for your pre-1981 cards Takes into consideration the technology of the time Half-point grading scale for more precise assessment Online Population Report available 24/7 On-time, every time guarantee Create-A-Card, Increase the value of your ungraded and graded cards by adding memorabilia! View our complete list of memorabilia options HERE. You will be able to make your selection on Step 4 of the grading submission process. Authenticated Game and Event Used Memorabilia from today's biggest stars Choose memorabilia from Baseball Bats, Jerseys, Numbers, Patches, Fire Suits, Shoes, Pants, and more... Quality grading service for your modern cards Internal sleeve for maximum protection Half-point grading scale for more precise assessment Online Population Report available 24/7 Detailed Report Card providing specific information on why your card received its final grade On-time, every time guarantee Create-A-Card, Increase the value of your ungraded and graded cards by adding memorabilia! In an effort to reach our wider audience, BCCG is a high-volume grading service intended to provide collectors with an attractive and affordable alternative to other graded card products. Authenticated Game and Event Used Memorabilia from today's biggest stars Choose memorabilia from Baseball Bats, Jerseys, Numbers, Patches, Fire Suits, Shoes, Pants, and more... Simplified 10-point grading scale No internal sleeve Quality archival protection Sonically sealed/tamper-proof protection In an effort to reach our wider audience, BCCG is a high-volume grading service intended to provide collectors with an attractive and affordable alternative to other graded card products. Simplified 10-point grading scale No internal sleeve Quality archival protection Sonically sealed/tamper-proof protection On-time, every time guarantee Beckett on-site review services allow our customers to find out what grades their cards deserve before they submit them to BGS or BVG. Detailed review feedback Half-point grading scale for more precise assessment Tamper-proof protection On-time, every time guarantee Available for raw cards Offered at the Beckett booth at a show near you! Beckett Grading and Beckett Vintage Grading Services Service Levels Order Size 1-19 cards 20-99 cards 100+* cards 2 Day $25/card $22/card $20/card 5 Day $20/card $18/card $15/card 10 Day $12.50/card $11/card $10/card 20 Day $10/card $9/card $8/card 45 Day $8/card $7/card $6/card ON-SITE GRADING AT SHOWS Service Levels Order Size 1-3 cards 4-19 cards 20 -99 cards 100-249 cards 250 cards 500 cards 1000 Cards On-site Grading $30/card $25/card $22/card $20/card $18/card $16/card $15/card On-site Slabbing of any RCR (Raw Card Review) $15/card RCR or GCR (Graded Card Review) $10/card $7.50/card $7.50/card $6/card $6/card $5/card $5/card While You Wait Preview $15/card n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a COLLECTOR'S CLUB GRADING Service Order Size < 100 cards 100 cards 250 cards 500 cards 1000 cards 3000 cards 5000 Cards 10000 Cards In and Out $5/card $4.50/card $4/card $3.50/card $3/card $2.50/card $2.25/card $2.00/card

Top BGS Submissions 1. 1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds 2. 2000 Topps Chrome Traded #T40 Miguel Cabrera 3. 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. 4. 1986 Fleer Update #14 Barry Bonds 5. 1986 Topps Traded #11T Barry Bonds 6. 2001 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres #62 Ryan Howard 7. 1993 Upper Deck #449 Derek Jeter 8. 2001 Upper Deck #295 Albert Pujols SR 9. 1985 Topps #181 Roger Clemens 10. 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan

Grading Cards - BGS Cards BGS Grades Beckett Grading Services can grade virtually any card from any set. For a listing of odd sized cards that we can grade, click on one of the links below. Baseball Basketball Football Hockey We are able to grade thicker cards up to 6.5mm (1/4"). Autographed Cards: Beckett Grading Services will grade cards with "certified autographs". That is, cards issued by major manufacturers that carry additional design elements indicating the manufacturer has certified the autograph of the card. The autograph itself will not be authenticated, but will be given a separate numerical grade based on the quality of the ink signature. There is a $2 additional charge per autographed card. Minor League Cards: Beckett Grading Services will grade most Minor League cards up to 3.5" by 5.25". Please note: We do not grade "Star Co." basketball cards. **Also, cards showing evidence of counterfeiting, tampering, or restoration will be charged the full amount according to the service option selected and will not be cased in the graded card holder.** Customer Care Home Cards BGS Grades Grading Scale Certified Autograph Cards Still need help?

The Rising Price of Brady Nov 6 2007 11:41AM A lot has happened in the two weeks since the current issue of Beckett Football hit newsstands on Oct. 24. The Patriots have won two more games and superstar quarterback Tom Brady has thrown for 561 more yards, tossed six more touchdown passes and even run for two. Oh, yeah, and his trading cards – all of them – are scorching hot. In fact, the feeding frenzy surrounding Brady right now is unlike anything we've seen in the industry in quite some time. But since our next magazine doesn't hit for a few more weeks, we can't accurately capture the up-to-the-minute volatility of his cards. So we've decided to do something about it. Here, for the first time ever, we present single-player dynamic pricing – a Brady NRP if you will – for one of the most dynamic players in all of professional sports. While you contemplate whether or not you want to partake of this special offer, consider that in the 14 days since Beckett Football #212 went live: • Brady's 2000-year cards have increased in value by an average of $118.62 per card. • His rookie-year cards are 163.9 percent (or $14,709) more valuable than they were. • His 13 autograph cards from 2000 have increased in value by a total of $4,425 (an average of $340 apiece). • Oh, and Brady's top two RCs from 2000 (Playoff Contenders and SP Authentic) have essentially doubled in value. It's rare for a player of Brady's considerable stature to be this hot this late in his career. Here's your chance to strike while the iron's hot

News Search All News Anime Auto Racing Baseball Basketball Dragonball Z Football Golf Hockey Magic: The Gathering Massive Online Gamer Soccer Tennis Vintage Yu-Gi-Oh! GAI Executive: 'The company is not going out of business.' Nov 8 2007 4:00PM Compelled by growing posts filled with allegedly inaccurate information on industry message boards, GAI vice president of business development Steve Sipe reiterated Thursday afternoon that the California-based sports memorabilia grading and authentication company is not shutting its doors. "The company is not going out of business," Sipe said adamantly. "Everybody's stuff is safe in a secure location. Our old landlord, we were negotiating, and the guy said 'you gotta be out,' gave us a notice and that's how it happened. It's just been a debacle." According to Sipe, negotiations for the company's new lease lasted longer than anticipated, causing a delay in GAI's ability to reestablish phone and internet connections. "Our IT guy is doing everything he can to get this thing fixed so the Web site's up," Sipe said. "We've got to have a location to be able to put the phone in and get it going. If you don't have a location to transfer it to so people can be in the building answering phones, what can you do?" Collectors seeking information from GAI about their orders have for the past few days been unable to contact the company either by phone (disconnected) or via its Website, which was inoperable as of Thursday afternoon. Emails to the company went unanswered. Sipe said he felt it necessary to reemphasize the company's stance today in an effort to put GAI's many customers at ease, all of whom have entrusted the company with varying parts of their collections. "I'm just trying to help people understand that [GAI] is not going anywhere and that they're stuff is fine," he said. "The company's still there, it just had to move. Otherwise, I would let you know. Hopefully, by tomorrow, this will all be a passing moment. "We'll get through it. I'm sure there are some upset people. I personally just wanted to take this upon myself because there's nothing worse than no information." Stay tuned to Beckett.com for updates to this story.