What's your opinion on pre war cards graded by KSA. Are they worth buying to cross over? Do most people avoid buying them? I know they don't do as well as PSA/SGC cards but are they worth taking a shot at. It is difficult to tell by looking at scans if the cards are worth buying. Thanks for the read.
There is currently a KSA 5 1933 Hall of famer on Ebay. The card has VG corners at best and what appears to be paper loss on the reverse. This would cross to a PSA 1.
There was also a laughable group on Ebay in the last week or two, every card had paper loss on the reverse and were from what I can remember graded in the 3 - 5 range.
I haven't ever owned KSA prewar cards, but from the scans I have seen on eBay, they look pretty bad. I don't think that they are so bad on 1950's or 60's, but they don't cross over well.
The prewar cards that have been on eBay look like pure crap! Sometimes there will be heavy creasing all the way across a card and it gets a 3 or better.
A KSA 5 may have a crease, rough corners and paper loss. I avoid them myself. If you find a really nice deal or a card that looks very strong, then it's worth a shot, but I wouldn't overpay!
I've never had a card graded before, more of a pack collector so I've never paid much attention to the collecting of graded cards. I was curious as to why PSA emerged as the grading company of choice for cards?
i would stay away from ksa cards if i where you.cross overs will not stand a chance to grade the same number.i once bought a gretzky opc rc on ebay and it was graded a 7 nrmt.it had a tiny crease in the top left corner.there grading system sucks,i went on there web sight to read there grades and they actually grade in high numbers with a crease in the card!!!!!!!!!!! ouch.after reading that i have never bought a ksa graded card again.for me they would only be good to authenticate a card.for example-i sent a bobby orr rookie card to get graded so when i sold it people where happy on ebay to know it was the real deal even though it was a low grade.
This message has been edited by danthevintageman on Jan 22, 2007 9:56 AM
With the KSA cards in their older holders (looks like a smaller version of the PSA holder), I have crossed over approximately 25 or so to PSA. About half crossed over at the same grade, the rest 1-2 grades below. However, the ones in the current KSA holder (black border) seem to be all over the board. KSA 6-7's which even by the naked eye look no better than PSA 1-2's. If you're interested in trying to get a deal, then ask for big, clear scans of the front and back. Good luck, but buyer beware.
The older, psa looking holders, were graded by the same one or two people. Since then, they have franchised out and there are different people grading in different parts of the country. There is no consistency and there is no guarantee that one of the franchisees is not grading his own cards. Jim.
Please don't ever knock down PSA. They still are number one and by a long shot. KSA is a joke. I even bribed the guy and he gave me a better grade.
I have bought KSA 7 cards that where PSA 5 and no better.
I will never buy a KSA card again. Unless I want to get ripped off.
