Mario Lemieux RC Questions

[stivsolovienna]

Hello!

I am looking to pick up a high-graded Mario Lemieux RC and wanted to ask you guys for answers to the following questions and also a reasoning for it

OPC vs Topps

BGS vs PSA

Thanks a lot and I am looking Forward to your insight!

Herbert

 

[Pacman69]

Opc is the more desirable of the two. I think this stems from opc being the Canadian version back in the day. I think there are less topps rc's available though. Psa seems to be the choice for pre 1990 post war cards. Others may disagree or have different opinions!

Pacman

 

[BrownBullhead]

I was always under the impression that Topps were far more plentiful than the OPC counterpart? I thought the assumption was that Topps was producing the volume needed to market to 300million people versus OPC marketing to 30million people? I don't mean there is 10x the amount of Topps, but just saying. also, I think BGS has nicer slabs and labels - PSA looks stuck in the 1980s.

 

[C55]

I was always under the impression that Topps were far more plentiful than the OPC counterpart? I thought the assumption was that Topps was producing the volume needed to market to 300million people versus OPC marketing to 30million people? I don't mean there is 10x the amount of Topps, but just saying. also, I think BGS has nicer slabs and labels - PSA looks stuck in the 1980s.

One reason PSA is preferred for vintage cards is that they only grade pack inserted copies (not sheet cut). With BGS, a high grade copy may well have been sheet cut (see the BVG 10 Orr on eBay). This is the only reason I stick with PSA and SGC (KSA cards are often deemed trimmed by PSA).

As far as OPC vs Topps: there are 2,000 Lemieux OPC graded by PSA and 2,500 Topps. Of course, OPC is Canada's label and thus far more popular.

Anyway, it's a beautiful and underrated card; even PSA 9's are very affordable. Find a PSA 9 OPC with the characteristics you value most (for me, perfect centering) and enjoy it!

 

[gomaz]

Anyway, it's a beautiful and underrated card; even PSA 9's are very affordable. Find a PSA 9 OPC with the characteristics you value most (for me, perfect centering) and enjoy it!

That right there.

OPC for sure. PSA for sure too. Anything pre 1990 you are better off going with PSA because, generally speaking, in the overall vintage market, PSA is the preferred grader.

 

[stivsolovienna]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! This is super helpful!

Herbert

 

[gratzi]

When I got mine I went OPC and BGS. OPC for all the reason stated above plus I've always liked OPC better as that's what I collected as a kid. BGS just cause I like the looks of BGS graded cards better.

 

[brokenstunter]

OPC and PSA
Beckett slabs look more modern but for vintage nothing beats PSA, IMO.
I have an OPC PSA 8 if ur interested, just upgraded to 9

 

[stivsolovienna]

Ok...thanks guys...I think this is really helpful here!

So what would I have to pay for a PSA 9 OPC you guys think? And how much more (I assume a lot more) is a PSA 10 actually?

 

[C55]

Ok...thanks guys...I think this is really helpful here!

So what would I have to pay for a PSA 9 OPC you guys think? And how much more (I assume a lot more) is a PSA 10 actually?

9's are available under $500. 10's are literally 10x as much (4-5 thousand!)

Unless you are a PSA fanatic/care about the registry, 9's are the way to go. Moreover, there are plenty of 9's that are indistinguishable from 10's without a microscope.