What about this card makes it a PSA 9 and not a 10?

[madden12ut]

@britishcolumbiazards

@madden12ut

1st ED base set Charizard PSA 9 :

I’m just curious because I contacted the owner of this zard and he said it was a pack fresh pull that he just graded, so I’m assuming the card has all its original gloss still. I can PM the ebay link if anyone wants it(if that’s allowed) but yeah this looks like the freshest 9 I’ve ever seen. The back/front centering is slightly off but they both should still be within the 75/25 and 60/40 parameters. Assuming the card actually looks this clean in person with no hidden big holo scratches(owner said there were none, doesn’t understand how this wasn’t a 10), PSA might as well create their own black label if this isn’t gonna get a normal gem mint 10 so that cards of this quality can go back to being 10s and absolutely perfect cards can get the black label

The centering does look within 10 guidelines. Obviously there are many 10’s with that or worse centering. I would argue though that you really don’t know what the card looks like. These pics are cloudy and against a white back ground. Im sure crystal clears pictures on a black background would tell a different story. But let’s say. The back is “perfect”, and the centering is within guidelines. What normally holds a card back with PSA? Surface. Surface every time. Base set cards are notorious for coming straight out of pack with print lines/ holo defects. There would be some sort of issue with this card. Although PSA seems to have upped its standards, if this card was perfect aside from centering. I don’t see PSA holding it back, and if they really did, then maybe it needs a review. But. I doubt there are no flaws.

I recently saw this thread while looking up ‘holo scratch psa 10’ on google : www.elitefourum.com/t/deserving-of-a-psa-10/21652/1

I feel like even if this Charizard had a minor scratch, it’s not even visible while looking at it directly(again this is based off the pics, you are right that I need to see it in person to actually verify its holo.) Whereas that Chansey had multiple scratches/deep scratch on a white holo background and got a 10 because the rest of the card was so clean. Point is, even if this charizard has a tiny hidden scratch, the card looks so clean that I’m a little amazed that it didn’t get a 10

I’m just concerned because I have a few old cards I want to submit(jungle 1st clefable, base 1st blastoise, etc.) that I think are in gem mint condition without holo scratches/back wear, but if this card can’t even pull a 10 then I’m scared for mine