Wreck-It Ralph said:
Snaketibe said:
Not very many, but of course not everyone likes grading or has their figures graded, so there could easily be some examples out there which would grade at 85 or higher, but which remain as free of perspex as the day they were made.
Instead they are kept in Plastic Star Cases which makes all the difference lol.
I don't like grading myself, but neither was I having a dig at it (on this occasion ;-)). I was merely pointing out that the global stock of mint 12 and 20 backs, whilst doubtless small in terms of absolute numbers, is also almost certainly a fair bit higher than most people probably estimate due to black hole collections. The AFA and UKG population numbers by definition cannot include figures which have never been graded, no matter how perfect those examples might be. Of course as black hole collectors eventually sell up (for whatever reason), those items which have been kept off the market for years then resurface, allowing others to buy them, and doubtless some of those will be sent away for grading. Assuming the current owners of graded figures generally look after them and that those figures suffer no accidental damage (although yellowing blisters, failing glue and especially vibration / shaking due to transit will sadly doubtless claim some previously perfect graded examples), I think you can actually expect the global supply of 85+ graded 12 and 20 backs to continue to nudge upwards for a few years yet.