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Posted By: davidcycleback

Amongst more modern cards, the fronts of the 53, 63 and 71 Topps are commonly recolored to cover wear. With the black borders, the 71s are perhaps the most condition sensative Topps card and collectors commonly touch up the black with a regular black pen. Luckily, most of the touch ups are straightforeward to identify. If you hold a 71T at a sharp angle to the light, pen marks often stand out as they have a different gloss and color. #1 rule for a 71 Topps is to take raw card out of the top loader, penny sleave or album before purchase, as even a penny sleave can hide touch ups.

One notable point is that die-cut cards like the Scrapps and Colgan Chips should be most difficult to deceptively trim. Similarly, trimming on an Old Judge cabinet would be obvious, as they have die-cut, beveled (cut at angle) edges and often have gold on the edges. While he may not say the same for his Near Mint T206, a collector can own a N173 and be sure it was never trimmed.