Is it me?
 

Or does this card look trimmed? Bat ears all over the place:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-Topps-295-J...#ht_766wt_1185

Great learning experience for me (and any other novice collectors still learning). What do you mean by bat ears? I look at this card and see sharp corners, which would be indicative of a 9??


Thanks for sharing!

bat ears
 

I do see bat ears on the bottom corners (not on the top). If the corners come to a point that seems to overhang the bottom borders (in this case), there is cause for suspicion. It's hard to believe that PSA wouldn't spot a trim job on a 1957 Topps card, but the company has proved itself untrustworthy in so many ways that nothing surprises me anymore.

Response
 

For the record, I do not claim to be a grading expert. It is very possible that this card is a legit 9. However, from my experience, it is also possible there is more than meets the eye....I own a high grade '57 set (not quite this high) and it seems to me a banana effect on bottom border which could be my wrong interpretation also known as bat ears. It is possible this submitter had due dilligence to submit this altered card (worth $10 as such) over and over until they go their desired grade, which x100 or more the $....JMO

Look how both corners "dip down". I talked to a veteran hobbyist who visited PSAs grading procedures and bascially he said the grades spent a few seconds on each cards with a stack in front of them and made very quick judgments...

Arch
 

Look at that arch, they have another card like that too for sale...I own a 90% complete EX-MT-ish '57 set and i can't say one card has an obviously wierd dowward cut as these---Seems to me there might be an issue here. Also, I also talked to a veteran hobbyist recently and he said he visited PSA hqrs and basically said the graders took about 10-30 seconds to grade a card...

That is very interesting. I can see the arch on the bottom now that you have pointed it out. I can't decide if my eyes are playing tricks, but even without enlarging it I can see an arch. It also appears the bottom corners follow the arch and dip below the borders.

Pointy
 

Look how point these corners are! You should be able to draw a straight line from one corner to another but look how they dip down!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-Topps-391-R...#ht_765wt_1185