ksa started with that holder and labeling system a long time ago.
they did used to give have grades in the beginning of there first few years.
the half grades are now dropped by ksa and there holders and label has also changed.
I still have a few old KSA graded cards in the old style holders as well. I am not sure when KSA went to $%&# but the older holders/cards that I have slabbed are graded rather well with respect to PSA. For the most part they would cross over quite well!
As we all know at some point in time his grading went to $%&#!
I beleive he tried to branch out or franchise and lost control. Maybe someone out there knows the whole story.
Im glad you guys enjoyed this card. I actually had to let it go recently to pay off some debts. To answer your question, i had it graded in the late 90s. Since i'm from Canada, and feared that my substancial investment could be lost in mail, and considering that a Mahovlich rookie I had sent to PSA the same year left NMMT and came back with a PSA 4 with a crease, I decided to entrust KSA with this one. The corners were razor sharp and to me it looked well centered. Kressler called me up personally to tell me he would've given the card a straight nine if it was a little better centered. Hope the new owner enjoys this masterpiece.
That is indeed a very nice card and i must have looked at the auction one hundred times trying to figure out how i could afford to buy it.
This is one i just picked up.
Congrats, nice card! I still have a couple left, the bucyk ksa 8, the crozier psa 8, dennis hull #1, and 1 more I think. They were all in the same shape.
This message has been edited by Anonymous2009CP on Jul 26, 2009 7:50 PM
Holding on to the rest for now. I have Dennis Hull, John Bucyk, Roger Crozier and Marcel Pronovost left. I also had a Howe but sold it to Tom Bailey 8 years ago. Will let you know if i ever decide to get rid of the rest.