I just came up on a gold mine and im not sure how to proceed.
 

Hello everyone, this looks like a great forum and I thought I would first introduce myself a little bit. 42 year old male I live in the SF Bayarea. I am a huge Niners/Giants/Warriors fan, grew up here a die hard fan of all 3 teams.

A week ago I found an ad on craigslist of a guy looking to sell his entire collection. In it was 3 Jerry Rice 86 topps rookies, 2 Joe Montana rookies, and a ton of other old cards from Bay Area legends. Those are the 5 best. I boguht them all. Now here is what is crazy. 2 of the Rice's look like they have a very good chance of being graded PSA 10. The other one looks like an 8 or so. The Montanas look to me like they could be graded a 9.

I have spend a lot of time over the last few days reading about grading and checking out stuff on ebay. I would like to sell these cards for the max price I could of course but Im not sure what I should do because PSA grades the Rice rookies very harshly and incosistently. I was wondering what some of the more experienced collectors would do? Thank you in advance!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/61Sk4Tp.jpg[/img]


[img]https://i.imgur.com/pypEtNm.jpg[/img]


[img]https://i.imgur.com/Hw59ON5.jpg[/img]


[img]https://i.imgur.com/siBtyLM.jpg[/img]


[img]https://i.imgur.com/j3MHaN0.jpg[/img]

Ugh, sorry about the massive pictures Im not sure how that happened.

Can't see, need bigger pictures.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/j3MHaN0h.jpg[/img]

[IMG][img]https://i.imgur.com/pypEtNmh.jpg[/img][/IMG]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/Hw59ON5h.jpg[/img]

Step 1 send to PSA.
Step 2 count that CASH.

[IMG][img]https://i.imgur.com/siBtyLMh.jpg[/img][/IMG]

[IMG][img]https://i.imgur.com/j3MHaN0h.jpg[/img][/IMG]

Seems like PSA grades these extremely harshly. I was wondering if I should send them possibly somewhere else as I would be massively disappointed if they come back less than a 9. Also I read that PSA charges an arm and a leg if the cards value is 5 figs and above etc. Does anyone think any of these are 10's?

Also Im not sure where to sell them.

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650841][img]https://i.imgur.com/Hw59ON5h.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

Definitely not a 9 - stain at the top and way off center, for starters. This would grade much lower.

Grading advice can't really be done at a fair level via picture though. You'd need in-person inspections.

A lot of guys on here use grader services to clean and submit to PSA. I'd recommend getting a referral for that if you haven't graded before and are unsure of the process. They could help you get a better handle on expectations.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=mikee1186;18650855]Definitely not a 9 - stain at the top and way off center, for starters. This would grade much lower.

Grading advice can't really be done at a fair level via picture though. You'd need in-person inspections.

A lot of guys on here use grader services to clean and submit to PSA. I'd recommend getting a referral for that if you haven't graded before and are unsure of the process. They could help you get a better handle on expectations.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

Txs for the input! What do you think about the Rice rookies? I I think one of them is a legit 10 but Im not an expert.

all those cards are at least off center, with how hard PSA grades pre 2000 I wouldnt expect higher than an 8, and that one Montana might be a 6 at best.

edit: and the cards in screw downs may come back as altered since the corners may be squished

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650857]Txs for the input! What do you think about the Rice rookies? I I think one of them is a legit 10 but Im not an expert.[/QUOTE]

There's never a guaranteed 10 since the line between 9 and 10 is so small, and due to the subjectivity of graders, and other reasons. Those do look very good in the pictures so that 9 or 10 could be in the cards, but like I said, nobody can give you an accurate assessment except in person.

As for specific advice about the grading challenges of that card, I don't know.

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650834][img]https://i.imgur.com/j3MHaN0h.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

I was thinking this one may be centered enough to be a 9 or 10.

Something tells me that the seller was the one who hit the goldmine.

Should I take these out of the screw down cases?

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650874]Should I take these out of the screw down cases?[/QUOTE]

That's a whole other subject. You'll need to if you want to grade them, but they may be damaged in there. Old screw downs are known for it. Proceed very carefully.

I have seen pictures of RIce rookies which have been graded PSA9 or 10 which look worse than the one I have. I have also seen a 7 or 8 grade which looked near perfect. Makes no sense, and with tens of thousands of dollars potentially at stake you would think they would offer a consistent service. I have wondered if they are intentionally manipulating the market.

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650874]Should I take these out of the screw down cases?[/QUOTE]

Yes.

Also I don’t think centering on any of them will yield you a 10.

In fact, if you got at best one 9 I would be really surprised.

Expect 8’s or worse.

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650884]I have seen pictures of RIce rookies which have been graded PSA9 or 10 which look worse than the one I have. I have also seen a 7 or 8 grade which looked near perfect. Makes no sense, and with tens of thousands of dollars potentially at stake you would think they would offer a consistent service. I have wondered if they are intentionally manipulating the market.[/QUOTE]Think that way and you will be back here complaining. Assume the worst

The 2nd Rice has corner wear probably a 6

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I have a graded psa7 Rice rookie that looks worse than that 2nd Rice.

[QUOTE=nj1980;18650871]I was thinking this one may be centered enough to be a 9 or 10.[/QUOTE]Be very very careful getting it out of the screwdown and into a card saver 1. Nick one corner and its a 7

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[QUOTE=nj1980;18650902]I have a graded psa7 Rice rookie that looks worse than that 2nd Rice.[/QUOTE]I believe you. I have a PSA 8 Gwynn with a wrinkle.

Just temper your expectations.

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[QUOTE=nj1980;18650884]I have wondered if they are intentionally manipulating the market.[/QUOTE]

Never attribute to conspiracy what can just as easily be attributed to incompetence.

But in this case, the answer is both.