What should I do with this card?

[drumback]

I bought this card on ebay last week from a fellow board member. First, I want to make it clear I have no complaint whatsoever about the seller, who has a strong reputation and many years experience with pre-war cards. He has offered a full refund if I don't want to keep the card.

The card was listed on ebay as a color variation. I received the card today, looked it over, and believe the color variation is definitely legitimate. It has not been altered to achieve the color variation. It is really quite unique and interesting; there is gray sky where it should be blue. See scans below.

The problem is that I believe the card has been trimmed on the top. You can't really see it in the scans, but when viewing the actual card, it's fairly obvious. So, my concern is that if I send it in for grading, it will receive an "A" grade for the trimming, and people will later assume the "A" refers to altering the card to achieve a color variation. I don't usually have my T206 cards graded, but I think perhaps I should on this one due to the unique color. On a previous thread, one member wrote that he thought it looked fake, so if I keep it without grading it might be hard to sell later on.

So, I would like some advice on what to do with this card. I paid $125 for it. Should I return it for a refund? Given that it is probably trimmed, what would collectors of T206 error cards think it is worth? Should I send it in for grading? If so, is one grading company better than the other when working with these kinds of cards?

Any help/advice on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mark
drumback2@cox.net

[Runscott]

Mark, I think $125 was a good deal for this card, trimmed or not.

To answer your question, either keep it, or offer it in the classifieds for your cost. I think it would sell quickly.

[Kenny Cole]

If you bought it to sell and you don't think it will grade like you wish it would, return it. If you bought it because you like it and want to keep it in your collection don't. Pretty simple IMO. It just depends on what your plans for the card are.

[kmac32]

Measure the card. Looks good to me.

[3-2-count]

I'd keep it raw just as is. Just another option to consider.

[drumback]

I did measure it, and it is actually oversized just a bit. Still looks trimmed, though.

[Gradedcardman]

sent

[lharri3600]

I agree scott

Originally Posted by runscott

mark, i think $125 was a good deal for this card, trimmed or not.

To answer your question, either keep it, or offer it in the classifieds for your cost. I think it would sell quickly.

[T206Collector]

Both top and bottom borders are crazy trimmed. If you can't see that in this scan, I would avoid buying raw cards.

Seriously.

[drumback]

I'm pretty sure the bottom is not trimmed. Sorta looks like it in the scan, for some reason, but in person the bottom border looks okay.

[Kenny Cole]

read the post wrong. My fault. I apologize,

[CobbSpikedMe]

Is it possibly printer's scrap? Maybe it was hand cut long ago. It could have been from a sheet that was discarded due to the bad coloring and then that sheet was cut up by someone and taken home.

Thanks

AndyH

[E93]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Is it possibly printer's scrap? Maybe it was hand cut long ago. It could have been from a sheet that was discarded due to the bad coloring and then that sheet was cut up by someone and taken home.

Thanks

AndyH

I was thinking the same thing. If you want it slabbed, just ask the grading company to label it as "missing color" and "trimmed". If you are going to the National you can ask them in person when you submit it. Otherwise call on the phone.
JimB

[ethicsprof]

with scott forrest, i do think that this card is quite a good deal and quite captivating with the color change.
I'd keep it and do the things suggested by JimB.
all the best and congrats,
barry

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by E93

I was thinking the same thing. If you want it slabbed, just ask the grading company to label it as "missing color" and "trimmed". If you are going to the National you can ask them in person when you submit it. Otherwise call on the phone.
JimB

I, too, thought it was scrap that was hand cut. If that is the case, and given the fact that it is oversized, would you trim it down to size with a more precision (straighter) cut? After all, the grading company is going to label it "Trimmed" either way so you might as well have a straighter cut.

[FrankWakefield]

OPTIONS: (a non-exhaustive list)

1- Keep the card as an object lesson on why one should forgo graded cards; and from now on don't collect graded cards.

2- Send the thing back and ask for a refund if you're unhappy with it; then refrain from buying ungraded cards.

3- Keep the card and be unhappy with it; let it serve as a perpetual reminder to you to never, ever again buy an ungraded card, because you don't care for ungraded cards.



The card has a non-factory, uneven cut. I can't imagine that it is printer's scrap, that's just wishful thinking.


If it was mine, I'd think I paid too much for it, and that it is just fine as it is... paying to have it graded would be overspending some more, and a waste of money. I could well see what it is without it being in a slab, as can you. I don't see back up there in the prior posts where someone says they have no clue as to what it is, but if it were slabbed then they'd know.

[drumback]

No, I wouldn't trim it again. I'm probably just going to keep it for now, without grading. Thanks everyone for your input.

[atx840]

It's a decent little error for the price, trimmed or not. I'm not getting the scrap vibe from it, but it's definitely a missing color card. I'd keep it if you like it for what it is, if not list it as an error and see what happens.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Kenny Cole

If you bought it to sell and you don't think it will grade like you wish it would, return it. If you bought it because you like it and want to keep it in your collection don't. Pretty simple IMO. It just depends on what your plans for the card are.

+1

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

I can't imagine that it is printer's scrap, that's just wishful thinking.

+1

[glynparson]

seem to be hand cut. i know i had a number a few years ago when you really got no to very little premium and all seemed to be hand cut a long time ago.

[steve B]

I'd keep it as-is. I wouldn't bother with slabbing, unless they would slab as missing color or wrong color. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I definetly wouldn't trim it more to even out the handcut edge. That edge is part of its appeal to an error collector.

Steve B

[Bridwell]

I don't see why some feel it is a missing colors card. Look at this one for $25 on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-11-T206...#ht_553wt_1185

It looks similar to yours, except a little brighter.

[drumback]

There is actually a big difference between the two. The one you refer to is definitely blue. Mine is definitely gray, and a much darker gray than it appears to be in my scan. If you look at it in the completed listings on ebay, that scan is a much better representation of how dark the sky really is. And, I never said it was missing color in the first place. I simply stated that it was a color variation, and asked for opinions on how this particular variation might have happened.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by E93

I was thinking the same thing. If you want it slabbed, just ask the grading company to label it as "missing color" and "trimmed". If you are going to the National you can ask them in person when you submit it. Otherwise call on the phone.
JimB

I asked SGC if they would label my card as a color variation (The card on the right)


I got this email back from SGC (Bob Luce):
" Unfortunately, we can not note your T206 Bob Groom as a color variation on our label. To reduce potential liabilities, we have decided to only label 100% indisputable color variations. We will leave any subtle variations to be sorted out by seller and buyer in the marketplace."

I, too, believe the card could come back as altered because of a bad top. So I have decided to keep it raw.