Are trimmed cards becoming more accepted?

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Posted By: Chris Counts

I just got outbid on a couple trimmed cards that went for crazy prices. Both were post-war (a '52 Bowman Musial for $195 and a '66 Kahn's Pinson for $135), but I've been outbid for on several pre-war trimmed cards recently as well. I'm a budget collector (do we still use the phrase "armpit" around here?), and I've picked up a few trimmed cards because I figure it's the only way those cards will ever make it in my collection. I wouldn't be surprised if trimmed cards are becoming more accepted. Certainly altered items are widely accepted in many genres of collectibles, particularly in the art world. Also, many cards marked "Authentic" display far better than most 1s and 2s. I'm curious what others think ...

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Posted By: Steve

Be happy you got outbid. 195.00 for a 52 Musial?


Steve

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Posted By: Matt

either that or the buyers are planning on cracking and resubmitting.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

The Musial was ungraded and looked short from side to side. The seller said it had been rejected as trimmed. The Pinson, I believe was in an SGC holder. Those late 60s Kahn's all seem to me like they're cut crazy, so I can't imagine how they grade them. I've seen 7s that look worse than some that were considered miscut ...

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Posted By: Fred C

To me it depends on the issue. For example, I'll take a trimmed OJ over a trimmed Topps card. Also, the AUTH label and slab gives trimmed cards a little more legitimacy.

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Posted By: Jason L

I thought about posting something similar last week but my idea lost momentum somewhere along the way.
I think both you and Fred C make great observations.

I recently bought a T206 Keeler w/bat SGC AUTH. It is obviously trimmed. But you know what, it's absolutely stunning-gorgeous to see in person - looks like an 8, easily! I paid $128, and thought it was a little high at the time, but not after I got it in my hands.

I know it's altered, but I also know it's the real thing. And I didn't have to part with thousands that I don't have in order to get it.

You know what, I do think it's going to continue to become more accepted. Simply because it's the only way for many people to participate. and that is only going to get worse as prices escalate.

Similarly, I have started buying (settling for) cards with nice fronts and damaged backs, instead of shelling out more for a solid VG or VG-EX card. For instance, I pulled the trigger on a T206 Zach Wheat with plenty of glue stuff on the back, graded a SGC 20. Front looks like a 5 and the back is miserable. But you know what?
1) I only look at the front
2) turns out I can't really afford a Zach Wheat in true EX!


Caveat:
I have not yet been able to accept altered post-war cards because I know the supply is far greater and I hope to locate nice examples at affordable prices more easily.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

I picked up a Lot of AUTH T206 in SGC slabs for about $20 per. They are beautiful! Near mint in all respects except for the fact that they may be slightly trimmed. Some I can't even tell.

Beautiful "near mint" looking T206's in SGC slabs? Any day, all day!!

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Posted By: Anonymous

It's nice to hear I'm not alone. Jason, I'm a big fan of back damaged cards as well ...

Here are a few of my favorites trimmed cards ...

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Posted By: Steve Murray

A few of mine. See what I mean?

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Posted By: Robert {Bigb13}

How about this one. Rob                                    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140239842880&ssPa geName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004

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Posted By: Matt

Robert - that Joe Jax was discussed on the board a few weeks back; odd that it went for 3X what an almost identical one went for at Mastro the week before.

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Posted By: Jason L

See, I completely agree.
just my personal taste/view, but I find those infinately more collectable than a card in truly poor condition, with rips, huge paperloss, etc.

Some of those T206s that we all see change hands for $10 each from time to time, I just don't understand. If I found them in an attic, I would literally throw them in the garbage can.

BUT!
I'm but only one idiot. That is what makes this globe go 'round...

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Posted By: Bob

I am a firm believer that someday in the future the price of a lightly (if at all)trimmed card in an SGC holder graded authentic will rival the price of an SGC 30 card. Not many agree with me, but I think in the future this could happen. We are already seeing hard to find and also HOFer prewar cards in great shape except lightly trimmed and slabbed "auth" bringing higher and higher prices.

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Posted By: quan

tbob that would only happen if there is a chance the card could be resubmitted for a (high) numerical grade. i would tend to agree that a nice A example could fetch more than a trashed 1. with collectors it's mostly eye appeal...1s and As are a blurry line these days.

what's the chance that someone paid $3.8k+ so the card below would stay in an sgc30 holder??? an average sgc30 e95 cobb goes in the 1.5k-2k range...

http://www.hugginsandscott.com/cgi-bin/showitem.pl?itemid=100619

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Posted By: TONY

I remember a trimmed card would sell for 10% max of the price of a non-trimmed card..... Now I see people paying 30% or so for trimmed cards
Trimmed cards are affordable so the demand is there & some collectors will settle for affordable trimmed cards

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Posted By: Steve

IMO it depends on the scarcity of the card in question.

A 1952 Musial is not that scarce.


Steve

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Posted By: James Gallo

I think it depends on the rarity of the card and the value. I have a few slightly trimmed cards and I don't mind them. I think if say a T-206 was trimmed to the image it would not be nearly as desirable as some that have been shown in this thread.

I have seen a lot of trimmed cards sell for what the same card in Good would sell for.

Basicly it all comes down to buying the card

Anyone got a trimmed Boston Store Ruth or Jackson for me....

James G

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.

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Posted By: Anonymous

The color on this card (and the Hindu back) caused me to overlook the top trim when bidding on this card. There can't be that many untrimmed versions of this card out there (and if there are I wouldn't have paid what I did).

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Posted By: Paul Carek

I was under the impression SGC wouldn't encapsulate a trimmed card (except for strip cards). Not true?

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Posted By: leon

SGC, PSA, and I am sure Beckett will put trimmed cards in AUT holders....regards

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Posted By: Chris Counts

The T206s I posted of Schulte and Sheckard were busted out of SGC holders ...