Which Nap would you rather have?
 

I was looking through the Joe's Vintage inventory yesterday and came across two SGC graded Lajoie Portraits. As an FYI, both cards had clean backs. I've cropped the images to remove the grade... which would you rather have? One has a light wrinkle/crease through the face and the other appears crease free, but has severe rounding of the corners. And feel free to "guess the grade" if you haven't peeked!

That's a tough one, as I don't really mind creases or wrinkles provided they don't intrude on the face/body of the player. Having said that, the wrinkle on the leftside Nap is pretty faint. With all these equal (ie. price) I'd probably lean towards the left Nap. Very close, though.

I would want the one on the right and guess they are both sgc 30

I would definitely take the one on the right without the crease.

To me, a crease across the face is the kiss of death. Evenly rounded corners don't bother me as much. When I look at the one on the left my eye goes straight to the crease, not to the corners.

Steve

I would also guess that they are both SGC 30, but I prefer the one on the left.

Right. Crease kills it. Still a nice card but prefer the one on right. Contrast is also better on the right one.

Right is right!!!

the one on the right.

both cards very close...so whichever one is cheaper. if they're same grade/price the clean left one.

Right. The image also seems just a little deeper.

+1, I'd take the one on the right as well.

If prices are the same, I'd go for the one on the right. The crease on the left just bugs the hell out of me in comparison. Plus the one on the left has some color/contrast issue that makes his right eye looks like kind creepy. However, if there weren't an option, I'd love the one on the left..

----->

Also, I think the card on the left will be harder to resell someday. My perception is that here are a lot T206 collectors out there that won't by a card with a crease and there seem to be even more that won't by a card with a crease across the face.

Steve

I'll take the one on the left, hate rounded corners more than that crease.

Joe

Although, I like the one on the left, I have a problem with the top border. I'd take the one on the right.

I'd lead toward the one on the right, even though standing any further than 3 feet away turns the one on the left into a 5 or 6. I guess SGC40's for both.

I'd take the right as well. This just proves "to each his own" because I actually prefer the well loved corners. That may just be that I've been conditioned to think "I can afford this"

My advice is take neither. They both have flaws that completely destroy the eye appeal. Save your money for something else.

I would take the one on the right

Yikes - I'm hiding my collection from you.

I'd take the one on the right; I don't think having the plain white edge around a card a bit rounded ruins the eye appeal.

I, too, prefer the one on the right. However, if that crease was at the top or bottom of the card, my opinion might change. Your eye is naturally drawn to Nap's face, and that crease just pops.

As an FYI, the one on the left graded at 30, while the one on the right was 40. Joe's has the 40 priced roughly 10% higher than the 30.

left

I'd take either one...the cheaper one preferably :)

Left one, and with a long soak the crease would diminish. Easy choice.

Creases in the face are normally a killer for me.However side by side I think its a little harder to say the right.Ill go left.

the right one...honest corner wear doesn't bother me, creases do.

la derecha(never left)

The one on the left by far cause I can roll that crease out and I could also care less about technical grade by some idiot 3rd party service.

One on the right. Better centering and eye appeal IMO. With portraits, since the focus is on the face of the player, I stay away from creases on the face. I have some that are creased every where else, but the face.

I like the one on the left, especially if it's less money. The crease doesn't bother me that much.

The right one has nicer color, but that's about it. I think it's a really weak 40.

Of course you didn't say what backs they were. If the right one is marginally tougher, I might go with that one instead.

Steve B

Right one. The image quality is the main reason for my decision, not the crease.

+1, unless I was skilled at getting rid of creases, like Dan! :D

I'd take the one without the crease first, the rounded corners give it a nice aged appeal (IMO) and I'm OK with that.

With that being said, the one with the crease isn't all that bad either.

Sincerely, Clayton

..........
 

+1 for right

dan,
 

a point you've made blatantly obvious