Has this PSA case been tampered with?

Crosscheck

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I've had this card for almost 2 years now. I came into the hobby wanting to collect PSA rookies. I was never educated about the possible forgeries that are out there. It has only come to my attention recently that some of these PSA cases can be tampered with. So, this brings us to this image, does this look legit?

2mfx36e.jpg
 
Looks legit. I had a fake Gretzky PSA 9 and you could tell when you held it sideways that the case was split, re-glued shut and the red insert at the top was re-printed. This looks like the bottom right might have been damaged but that's what the case is for.

If anything, that serial number should be more than enough proof if it matches with PSA's registry
 
Thank you! I'm so relieved... I was getting paranoid here. I would have been devastated if this card/case wasn't legit.

Thanks again :)
 
@Burner: By the way, sorry you had to go through getting a forgery. :(

@terry: I'll post a pic of the back of the card tonight, to hopefully eliminate all doubts.
 
The card looks good, however I would be pretty concerned looking at the condition of the case. Frosting of the case is a sign of tampering, bottom right section and all four corners look to be frosted.

Dave
 
The card looks good, however I would be pretty concerned looking at the condition of the case. Frosting of the case is a sign of tampering, bottom right section and all four corners look to be frosted.

Dave

Yeah, that's why I decided to post it here to see what people thought. Is there any way to know when this was sealed by PSA? Basically, I'd like to know how old this case is, it almost looks like use.

By the way, here is a pic of the back:
lur09.jpg


Additional thoughts, guys?
 
I will preface this by saying I am not an expert at all. the back actually concerns me more than the front. it almost looks to clean and bright, especially the unprinted part. Now keep In mind, I do not have any cards that could be considered psa 8 quality from that year and who the heck can really tell from a scan. I would truly say compare it to a common from that year, the paper coloring should look very similar.

I expect others with more experience to tell me im wrong

Pacman
 
I'm surprised it is only a PSA 8 - aside from a rough cut top edge, the card looks amazing. The centering is awesome...the surface looks flawless...the corners sharp. This to me looks 9 worthy...my hunch is that, if there is shadiness, they pulled out the true graded 8 card, kept it, and replaced it with a reprint.
 
Well I'm bummed out now...

What should I do? Bring it to a card shop to get the opinion of an "expert"? Send it to PSA to get a final word on it?
 
Easiest way is to get your hands on a 79/80 card and compare the backs first... the paper on the back doesn't like right, but it could just be the scan. It doesn't have to be a Gretzky you compare it to - just any card from the set will do. Taking it to a local shop won't hurt either. I'd do both of those before sending it back to PSA for comment.

Cory
 
Those PSA cases are WEAK! So easy to split it up open. The BGS cases I have to shatter to get something out. BGS will make you work to free a card those PSA holders are junk.
 
Easiest way is to get your hands on a 79/80 card and compare the backs first... the paper on the back doesn't like right, but it could just be the scan. It doesn't have to be a Gretzky you compare it to - just any card from the set will do. Taking it to a local shop won't hurt either. I'd do both of those before sending it back to PSA for comment.

Cory

Thanks, this reminded me that I had a Bobby smith, so I pulled it out to compare. There seems to be a slight texture difference, but what worries me the most is how clean the cut is on the Gretzky compared to the Smith...

Here's a pic for what it's worth:

zjv3wj.jpg
 
I'm surprised it is only a PSA 8 - aside from a rough cut top edge, the card looks amazing. The centering is awesome...the surface looks flawless...the corners sharp. This to me looks 9 worthy...my hunch is that, if there is shadiness, they pulled out the true graded 8 card, kept it, and replaced it with a reprint.
I think you could be spot on here. I agree too, that it looks too good to be only an 8, and the cut is too precise for many cards from that set and to be an 8. The back is also suspect. It's true as well that PSA cases are junk and can be easily tampered with because they are thin and flimsy as compared to the much better BGS cases. Taking it to a local shop wouldn't hurt, but I'd wait until you hear from PSA to determine if this card is a bust. I really hope for your sake it isn't Even if you check the serial number it won't matter because if the "true" Gretzky had been busted out of the slab, the serial number will match that card and PSA would have no way of knowing this had happened (unless it had been reported).
 
My only suspicion is that the cuts are too straight and that back looks a little to "new". Those OPC/Topps cards were wire cut and had the rough edges. I may be wrong but I believe PSA doesn't grade sheet cut cards, or is it that they don't grade them as high? Perhaps it has a designation of "sheet cut" on the PSA sticker?
 
don't worry card is legit , the only reason the color is different and little brighter than usual is because it is unfortunately not first print Gretzky rookie this is prob third print or later , and i have seen and owned several of them and i have no doubt that it is a real legit card

Well I'm bummed out now...

What should I do? Bring it to a card shop to get the opinion of an "expert"? Send it to PSA to get a final word on it?
 


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