Diminutive Surface Scuffing - Show Your Scuff (Fluff)

[frankbmd]

Inspired by Memory Lane in another thread, I suspect there are members of this board who are not living up to their potential and have a future career waiting for them as an author of auction catalog descriptions. Let this thread serve as a job application for auction houses everywhere. Post a card you own and then write your own description of that card. Who knows? Someone may want your card or you may even get a job offer. I will get the ball rolling with a trio of 55s.

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No one personifies Yankee baseball in the 50s more than Andy Carey. His cards with a slight diamond cut exemplify the "gem" that he was. Apparent, but diminutive, surface scuffing on his cap is misleading due to the fact that he was, in fact, wearing a "game used" cap for the photo. The action pose at first appears to show paper loss, but in our opinion demonstrates that his tongue was actually white. There is however microscopic paper loss near the lower border of the card which does not obscure his designation as a third baseman. The reverse actually is quite crisp and supports the premise that most of the apparent "flaws" on the front are optical illusions indeed. Diminutive surface scuffing on the back renders only 2 of the 26 statistical boxes illegible. With a fine tip black pen and Baseball Reference these numbers could be restored, but who in their right mind would alter this beauty and risk it not receiving a numerical grade.

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Bid early and often on the centerpiece of the 1955 Topps Baseball Set. The Roberto Clemente Rookie Card we are offering has the added bonus of being trimmed by a "rookie", a double rookie card if you will. Notice, as well, that the remaining border on the top of the card is snow white, suggesting that this card once possessed four snow white borders. Focus now on Roberto's face and the nearly perfect registration which is shared by his action pose as well. And no Clemente RC is complete without the pirate in the logo and Roberto's pirate logo in this example is unequivocally pristine. The reverse of the card shows minor toning, which should only be considered a "fine patina", often valued aesthetically for its enhanced color. The blemish in the upper left red band of the reverse, you probably didn't notice, and PSA won't see it either in our opinion. "Hook" this card onto your Watch List.

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If you are not from Boston, you may not know Jack. At first glance the high numbered card of Jack (aka Jackie) Jensen we are offering appears to be a beater, but diminutive surface scuffing is difficult to detect. Yes, a few surface wrinkles are apparent on the scan and in hand there may be a few more, but if you look carefully, the wrinkle (creases are straight, right?) that traverses his face goes over his right eye and then dips low enough to go under his left eye. The care the original owner exhibited in creating this wrinkle is indicative of the care this card has received for 62 years. Therefore we believe that this card was crumpled only once. The reverse shows "feathering" in the lower right corner raising the specter that card may have been rebacked. Fear not though, for the stats are correct and Jack Eugene Jensen is the same Jack Jensen portrayed on the front. We guarantee that.

If you land a job as a result of this thread, tell us who your employer is so that we all may enjoy your work.