What are your card must haves?

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

A great aspect of the hobby are collector's varying attractions to a card's make-up. For me it's (in order of importance)

1. Centering
2. Registration (clarity of image, lack of print defect)
3. Corners
4. Stains
5. Paper integrity (chipping, rough edges)

Would be curious to hear opinions of others here and Add a card that typifies your choices!

Here's mine:

[cincyredlegs]

Hey AJ. Good topic. Mine would be:

Centering
Corners
Registration
Staining
Paper Loss (back)

Centering use to be down the list but in the last 5 years, it has went to the top.

[DeanH3]

My list would look just like yours AJ. centering is A1 for me.

[SMPEP]

Mine would be - do I have it or not?

If I don't already have it - who the hell cares what it looks like?

I think all of the people who worry about the condition are certifiably insane. You show me a PSA 10 and I'll show you a card that has been doctored. You show me a PSA 1 and I'll show you a card that has lived a good life and that was well loved.

Fortunately for me, the majority of card collectors care more about shallow appearances than actual substance. Of course living in LA - on a daily basis I see that this last statement applies to a whole lot more people than just card collectors! ;-)

[OsFan]

If the card doesn't have sharp corners I'm not really interested.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

Mine would be - do I have it or not?

If I don't already have it - who the hell cares what it looks like?

I think all of the people who worry about the condition are certifiably insane. You show me a PSA 10 and I'll show you a card that has been doctored. You show me a PSA 1 and I'll show you a card that has lived a good life and that was well loved.

Fortunately for me, the majority of card collectors care more about shallow appearances than actual substance. Of course living in LA - on a daily basis I see that this last statement applies to a whole lot more people than just card collectors! ;-)

^^+1^^ If the card is mostly there with no paper loss on the players face and/or a huge crease through the players face I like it.

[gawaintheknight]

My approach is: is this a problem the card had when it came out of the pack? If so, I don't care so much. So gum stains, centering, print marks, etc., not usually a big deal. Creases, stains, writing, rips, etc., more of a problem.

[x2drich2000]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

Mine would be - do I have it or not?

If I don't already have it - who the hell cares what it looks like?

I think all of the people who worry about the condition are certifiably insane. You show me a PSA 10 and I'll show you a card that has been doctored. You show me a PSA 1 and I'll show you a card that has lived a good life and that was well loved.

Fortunately for me, the majority of card collectors care more about shallow appearances than actual substance. Of course living in LA - on a daily basis I see that this last statement applies to a whole lot more people than just card collectors! ;-)

+1 For a lot of the stuff I've been into lately, I'm just happy to find an example. And if it is burned, has holes, or is almost torn in half, I'll still take it.

And since everyone loves pics...

[JollyElm]

I'm sure there is a huge difference in the level of concern with regards to centering and corners based on whether you focus on pre-war or post-war cards. Since I collect the latter (and they are 'easier' to find), I look for sharp corners first, while centering (as well as other things) is less important. If I collected the older stuff, I'm sure the sharpness of the corners would drop down on my requirements list, simply because it would be much harder to find the cards I want, so I couldn't afford to be too picky.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by DeanH3

My list would look just like yours AJ. centering is A1 for me.

It looks like a lot of us think the same way. Me too...except for Football Cy he hasn't been shown too recently...

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by Leon

It looks like a lot of us think the same way. Me too...except for Football Cy he hasn't been shown too recently...

Great minds think a like!!

Sam - Spectacular cards. Love em!!

Here's one I stare at almost everyday.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Damn I've been looking for a Bat On Cobb just like this one! Dean great looking card!

[PSACJ]

AJ,

First of all, that is a tremendous PSA 4 Mantle Buddy.
Here is the way that I prefer my cards when collecting them.

1- Corners
2- Centering
3- No Paper Loss
4- Eye Appeal
5- Edges

[jbl79]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

A great aspect of the hobby are collector's varying attractions to a card's make-up. For me it's (in order of importance)

1. Centering
2. Registration (clarity of image, lack of print defect)
3. Corners
4. Stains
5. Paper integrity (chipping, rough edges)

Would be curious to hear opinions of others here and Add a card that typifies your choices!

Here's mine:

Amazing 51B Mantle AJ! Higher graded ones can't beat the eye appeal, registration, and centering on that Mick!

I always try to look for cards that are centered, have great eye appeal, and a sharp clean image. I can live with slightly rounded corners since I generally buy low grade anyways. I don't mind minor paper loss on the back if the front has all those attributes. I certainly didn't mind it on the T206 Cobb

[tothrk]

Jerry, those are two nice cards.