Question about THE NUNS t206 Wagner
 

I would like to apologize in advance if this topic has already been brought up, I just saw this thing and had a couple of questions. First, if this card was covered in shillac how was sgc able to authenticate it? Wouldn't the shillac pose a problem once under a microscope? Considering it would look different than a raw card not coated in a substance? Maybe its just me, but I kinda thought the shillac would prevent sgc from grading it. Maybe I'm wrong which is why i thought id seek the advice of some of you more seasoned collectors. Thanks

I'm sure Andrew will be able to chime in here and better answer this question for you....

His first hand knowledge on this card is invaluable ;)

I don't know SGC's methodology, but a microscope should work through shellac if the shellack is relatively clear. My microscope could saw a card's printing through a PSA holder. You have to be able to get the microscopic image in focus, and a thin film shouldn't prevent that. If somethings framed behind glass, then that can be too far away to get a proper focused look.

With old photos it can be a different situation, as you often have to look at the paper fibers to authenticate. Shellac could probably hide that view. I think shellac could cause legitimate authentication problems with an 1800s photograph. Though I can't recall ever having had a photo old or new that was shellacked, so I'm speculating. And, anyway, with a T206 you're examining the printing not the paper fibers.

Shellac kills the value of the card, though. The nuns' Wagner couldn't even find a buyer on here at $75,000. ;)

omg!!! lolol :eek:

Honus Wagner gets A-List treatment. If it is trimmed it can be a PSA 8. If it is shellacked it gets a holder where as the shellacked Red Hindu from the October Sterling auction couldn't be holdered.

I wish someone had a picture of a certain member holding it. That'd sure help I think ;)

Until this thread, I didn't know the card was shellacked.

Red hindy devore....
 

I am the proud owner(RED HINDU DEVORE).....believe it or not, laminated , IT LOOKS SWEET!!:)

I guess all Wagners retain a previous owners' association, but it's fun to imagine people some two hundred years from now still referring to it as the Nuns' Wagner.

My ancestors were expelled from their homeland by the Catholics, so each time this card is graded it brings back bad memories. I refer to it as the shellac of shame.

For the record, my ancestors really were expelled by the French Catholics, but I have nothing against Nun cards. I was just giving a editorial counterbalance to the previous post.