Sports Illustrated Blog # 141 on Our Way to 200 – Beware of early CGC grades
Welcome to my Sports Illustrated/TIME magazine blog – Your collector’s guide to the latest hobby updates and insight into what’s trending now. Last time, I wrote about the potential evolution of CGC’s grading standards for magazines going forward. Today, we’re going to turn the tables a bit. This week’s topic takes a look back to the grading parameters CGC established 8 years ago and compare them to today’s standards. Approximately 8 years ago, very early in the magazine grading evolution, I submitted a Clay 1963 SI to CGC for grading and the grade came back 9.6. At the time, I was happy with the grade but had no idea of its significance. Over the next few years, this 9.6 Clay would become one of the most coveted of all graded sports magazines in existence. But is it really? Let’s take a closer look. Below, I have attached a picture of the front cover of that very magazine. Let’s compare the grade and condition of this mag with condition and grades of today. Things I notice about the front cover condition: Front Cover – binding – multiple stress lines which break color Front cover – right elbow – shelf abrasion Front cover – right elbow – Errant red splotch Front cover – bottom left – significant crease runs 6” across left side, bottom Front cover – right bottom edge/bottom right edge – chatter marks Front cover – miscellaneous finger bends through out. I have submitted over 3000 magazines for grading and although grading is somewhat subjective, I feel I’m a pretty fair judge of raw magazine potential grades. In my opinion, this magazine is a 6.0-6.5 at best, within today’s grading standards. Yet we drool all over what I consider to be a modern imposter. The real proof would be to crack open the encapsulation and have it regraded, but of course, that is not going to happen. The moral of this story is – before you invest 6-7 figures in these “Mt. Rushmore” classics, check the grading date, inspect the item personally, and consider the inevitable market the response to your findings. I don’t want any of my readers to be misled by the older grading process. Best of luck. I hope you are enjoying the reads on the history of SI, SPORT, and BASEBALL magazines as well as an insight into relevant magazine collecting. Great collecting to you in our second century of blogs and best fortunes with Sports Illustrated/SPORT/BASEBALL magazines. For a complete review of previous blogs, please visit www.sportsillustrated98.com |