BGS Unveils Industry's Largest Slabs

Jul 25 2008 1:13PM

Following years of research, development and countless bouts of trial and error, Beckett Grading Services is ready to introduce its new large-format slabs to a highly anticipatory audience.

The new custom-made slabs, the first of their kind in the industry, measure 9 ½-by-13 inches and will hold items as large as 8 ½-by-11 inches and a quarter-inch thick.

"I don't think there are a lot of viable areas left that you can be the first to do something in grading right now," says Mark Anderson, Director of Beckett Grading Services. "So, to us, this was very critical. At Beckett, we try to think ahead a little bit to anticipate what's going to be the next big thing or what is currently untapped. I think this has legs underneath it to go quite a ways."

BGS will officially begin accepting oversized card submissions during next week's 29th National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. There will be a surcharge on oversized items to help cover the additional costs involved.

Anderson notes that although cards are the obvious starting point, he says that BGS hopes to make additional announcements regarding other submissions as the year progresses.

"We'll start by offering this new holder for cards and James Spence Authentication (JSA) services, but it leaves infinite possibilities for other larger-scale items in the hobby that could never be slabbed before," Anderson notes.

Those "other possibilities" may include original wire photos, postcards, programs and magazines, to name a few. Later this fall, Beckett will unveil a second large-format slab, this one measuring 6-by-9 inches and capable of holding items up to 5-by-7 inches.

Through a partnership formed in late 2007 between JSA and Beckett Grading, flat items submitted for autograph authentication by JSA may then be encapsulated by BGS/BVG (www.beckett.com/jsa). "JSA has had collectors waiting years to be able to encapsulate their larger items such as photos and magazine covers," added Anderson.

"We've been working about two years on this, perfecting the case," Anderson says. "I think people would be amazed at how much effort has gone into designing a case like this that actually works. Our holders are sonically-sealed with an inner sleeve to absorb shock. By far, it is the largest sonically sealed holder that's out there. We had to buy all new equipment big enough and powerful enough just to slab these."

Be sure to visit the Beckett booth during the 29th National Sports Collectors Convention to see BGS' history-making slabs for yourself.