T206 Piedmont 350 BILLY NATTRESS Buffalo Bisons SGC 3
Please feel free to reach out! Grading will always be a subjective assessment assigned to a card, as evidenced by the inconsistencies seen in grades assigned by the major Third-Party graders (PSA, CSG, SGC, BGS) relative to each other and even to themselves. The only consistent thing about TPGs is their inconsistency.
Regarding how I assign a grade - I attempt to be as consistent and strict as possible. Grading Standards/Guidelines at The Coop. Not Altered but Authentic - The card could be undersized or oversized from the factory and will most likely not receive a numerical grade. Altered but Authentic - The card has been altered after it left the factory. It could have been trimmed, recolored, or have had another alteration done to it to call into question the integrity of the card. Heck, maybe it's an old tobacco card that has evidence of some rodent, moth, or bug nibbling! Card is in bad shape. Provided it's not altered or near disintegration - the card can have anything and everything wrong with it. It is also possible for Poor cards to look Mint.The front can look perfect with major paper loss on back. Fair - FR (1.5). Corners can all be noticeably rounded with a couple creases present in the card itself. Very minor paper loss can exist on the front, provided it is not in the image of the card. If there is paper loss on the back, it must equal 15% or less of the back of the card.
Corners can all be noticeably rounded and this can be accompanied by one light crease or a couple minor wrinkles. If the corners are more in tact, more creasing is allowed. Paper loss is possible, but will need to be relatively small and on the reverse.
Very Good - VG (3). Corners can all be rounded, but not to the point where it seems part of the card is missing. May have a crease, or a couple tiny wrinkles. If paper loss exists, it must be very minimal and on the reverse, and will also require the front to be in NM to MINT condition. Corners may be slightly rounded and surface wear is noticeable.
The card may show light scuffing or scratches with some original gloss still intact. Borders may be slightly off-white and a very light crease/wrinkle is still acceptable. Centering can be 95/5 on front (border could be missing from one side), provided the rest of the card is in EX-MT condition.No paper loss anywhere can be present. Minor rounding of the corners is acceptable. Surface wear or printing defects can exist as well. There may be minor chipping on edges provided the rest of the card maintains condition of EX-MT to NM. The centering can be at MC level, with border missing from one side, provided the rest of the card is in NM condition.
There may be very minor surface issues and a couple printing imperfections. Corners may have minor fraying and picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Possible to have minor nicks in the edges, provided the rest of the card is in NM-MT condition.
Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Near Mint - NM (7). No nicks in the edges, but might show slight surface wear.
There may be slight fraying on 1-3 corners. Centering must be approximately 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. If the centering is 75/25, it will require the rest of the card to be in Mint condition. No nicks in the edges or surface issues are present.
May have one or two of the following: a very slight wax stain on the reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 or 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Will only have one of the following minor flaws: a very slight wax stain on the reverse, a minor printing imperfection or slightly off-white borders. One corner may have a tiny amount of wear or fraying, but the rest of the card will need to be Gem Mint. Centering must be approximately 60/40 to 65/35 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
No surface issues or noticeable printing imperfections. Centering must be 50/50 on front, and possibly 55/45. 75/25 or better on the reverse.MK - Mark (pen mark, pencil mark, or noticeable evidence of erasure). ST - Stain (usually gum or wax stains). OC - Off center (usually means the card measures correctly, but the image registration is severely off center).