Hi everyone, does anyone know how PSA grades autographs? For example, I have an AUTO10 where the pen probably didn’t write that well. On the other hand, I also have autographs that are very dull and only have an AUTO8. I don’t quite understand how PSA grades them. Is it based on the general letters or symbols of the autograph?
Personally, I don’t really care about the grading of AUTO Cards, as it’s only about authenticity. And since there’s a nice sketch on it, I bought the card. However, the grading does surprise me.
It definitely looks overgraded but I also agree the auto grade is silly on cards signed recently (ie. not like 50+ years old). Did they swap the auto and card grade?
It could actually have been swapped; that crossed my mind, too. But I’ll leave it as it is and not send it in again because it doesn’t really matter to me. The main thing is that the card is well protected and has a nice sketch, as well as the authenticity of the autograph. Do you happen to know who the card is dedicated to? Google only spits out 1-1-1
Seems like that one posted could have been overgraded.
Here’s a breakdown of the PSA autograph grading scale from 5-10, along with the criteria that determine each grade:
Grade 10: Gem Mint
Clarity: The autograph is perfectly clear, bold, and crisp, with no smudges, fading, or bleeding.
Placement: The signature is ideally placed on the card or item, usually without any overlap or obstruction.
Penmanship: The signature is consistently strong, with no irregularities in the writing.
Ink Quality: No issues with ink bleeding or fading. It appears fresh and high-quality.
Overall Condition: The signature is flawless, showing no noticeable imperfections.
Grade 9: Mint
Clarity: The autograph is very clear, but may have a slight imperfection (e.g., a small smudge or slightly uneven ink flow).
Placement: The signature is well-placed, but there might be a minor issue such as slight off-centering or a small part of the signature near an edge.
Penmanship: The writing is generally strong but may have some subtle inconsistencies (e.g., a letter might be slightly off compared to the typical signature style).
Ink Quality: The ink may show a tiny bit of fading or a minor smudge, but it doesn’t detract significantly from the signature’s overall appearance.
Overall Condition: A nearly perfect autograph, with very minor imperfections.
Grade 8: Near Mint to Mint
Clarity: The autograph is clear but may exhibit minor smudging, fading, or slight ink inconsistencies that affect the legibility to a small degree.
Placement: The signature may be slightly off-center or positioned in an awkward spot on the card/item.
Penmanship: The writing may show some irregularities, such as inconsistent pressure or slightly shaky strokes.
Ink Quality: Minor fading or smudging, but still mostly readable and visually appealing.
Overall Condition: Still a strong autograph, but noticeable imperfections are present.
Grade 7: Near Mint
Clarity: The signature may have noticeable fading, smudging, or unclear portions, making parts of it hard to read.
Placement: The autograph may be poorly placed or overlapping another element on the card/item.
Penmanship: There may be obvious irregularities, such as shaky letters or inconsistent pressure.
Ink Quality: Fading or smudging is more pronounced, possibly affecting legibility in certain spots.
Overall Condition: While still an authentic and recognizable autograph, this grade indicates significant imperfections.
Grade 6: Excellent to Mint
Clarity: The signature is still mostly legible but may have heavy smudging or fading that affects large portions of the autograph.
Placement: The autograph may be off-center or placed in an awkward location.
Penmanship: The signature may appear inconsistent, with clear variations in style (e.g., some letters may look very different from the person’s typical signature).
Ink Quality: Fading and smudging are obvious and detract from the quality of the autograph.
Overall Condition: The signature is still mostly identifiable, but significant flaws make it less appealing.
Grade 5: Excellent
Clarity: The autograph is visible but may be partially faded, smeared, or otherwise difficult to read in some areas.
Placement: The signature may be very poorly placed, possibly covering a significant portion of the card/item or overlapping with important design elements.
Penmanship: The signature might appear shaky, inconsistent, or significantly off from typical examples.
Ink Quality: There could be significant fading, smudging, or even discoloration in parts of the signature.
Overall Condition: A recognizable but flawed signature with substantial visual issues. Still an authentic signature but may be less desirable due to the condition.
Summary:
Grade 10: Flawless, perfect condition with no issues.
Grade 9: Nearly perfect with minor imperfections.
Grade 8: Minor fading, smudging, or slight inconsistencies.
Grade 7: Noticeable imperfections but still legible and recognizable.
Grade 6: Fading, smudging, or significant issues, still identifiable.
Grade 5: Major flaws, such as heavy fading or smudging, but still identifiable.
In short, the higher the grade, the clearer, cleaner, and more consistent the autograph is in terms of ink quality, placement, and overall appearance.
Based on the table, I’d go with a 7 AUTO. Apparently, they really did mix up the grades. But can you even send an AUTO card for regrading? They can see the cards.
