Why are entire numbers or letters missing on these backs?

[GregMitch34]

Maybe this is no big deal, and you may tell me that Old Mill backs routinely are missing entire letters (though none that I have)....Probstein auctioned a bunch of t206 SLers tonight, mainly PSA 4 and 5 Old Mills. I thought I might bid on a few but noticed that nearly all of the ones I liked had entire letters missing on the back--such as "VIRG NIA" or sometimes more than one letter, such as "Base Ba." And these were on PSA 5s.

Yet the bidding was fairly strong anyway with prices in the $250 to $400 range (I'd say some were lower than normal, but not all). So: is it very common for letters to be missing on these Old Mills? Is it normal for PSA to not care because it's "just" the backs? Were bidders foolish to ignore it?

3 letters missing here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T206-Dutch-Revelle-Richmond-SL-Southern-Leaguer-Old-Mill-PSA-5-EX-/380891741919?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=CMZmBOy9GvhFKxxnqY%252F6Kc4MDPc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

2 here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T206-Roy-Ellam-Nashville-SL-Southern-Leaguer-Old-Mill-PSA-5-EX-/360916404538?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=CMZmBOy9GvhFKxxnqY%252F6Kc4MDPc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Many other examples...

[atx840]

Could be the scanner's dust/scratch setting messing up.

[t206blogcom]

I agree with Chris, it's the scanner.

I had the same problem once with a Piedmont 150 backed T206. No matter what I did, the 1 in 150 was always blank until I got a new scanner.

[JohnP0621]

I Agree that it is the scanner. I recently won a card from onE of his auction. I bid on it because the scan of the back said 50 subjects instead of 150. When I received the card it had the 150 with no missing numbers.

John P

[GregMitch34]

Well, ya learn something every day....prices seemed a bit down so it appears that maybe a few others were also concerned....

[GregMitch34]

Didn't get many responses on this--just want to make sure it is consensus that scanners often "leave out" entire letters or numbers on back of cards?

[ullmandds]

Mine doesnt

[camlov2]

it would concern me... if whole numbers are missing it is likely that small flaws/creases/print dots might be missing since they might be considered "dust"

[jhs5120]

It's the scanner.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Did you ask the seller?