Errant Writing on Vintage Baseball Cards.....
 

Not wanting to hijack the very good thread about the Star BBC CDV, but related to some comments, I want to approach the subject of erasing writing on our cards. My personal thought is that it is ok to take off whatever wasn't on the card originally, if done so in a very organic manner ie.. water and Q tip. However there are many times I am a strong proponent of leaving them. This E136 Zeenut of Weaver came from a long ago, and quite well known PCL collector's collection. His first name "Alfred" is written on many of our old PCL cards. He must have had a heck of a collection. This card was recently sold from my collection and was raw (I believe) until it was sold. But to me the writing enhances this card and was left on it....Thoughts?

I agree in this case. As with most blank-back cards, I have much less of a problem with writing on the back than printed-back cards. I think it's because blank-back cards tend to draw actual comments/details about the people, stats, how the owner felt, or time in which they played. In these cases, they aren't just 'stray' markings or other scribble.

I mean, c'mon. How can someone not appreciate the writing on the back of these Beatles cards? :D

There is almost nothing we haven't chatted about before. However we do have 1500+ new members since that thread was started, so even old topics can be reviewed and discussed.
Sometimes I get to reading links posted, as that one, and I end up reading something for much longer than I intended. I am not sure if that is good or bad but am leaning towards the latter....

Most of the time I would probably say that the writing doesn't enhance the card. An exception might be something cool related to that time period (i.e. a mention of a President, a date, etc.). Just writing like numbers and scribbling? Not really an enhancement in my eyes.

But I will say that, as largely a collector of low- and mid-grade cards, it generally doesn't bother me as long as the price reflects that of a low-grade card.

OT 1970's
 

Scribble from topps Sorry for being more recent

Aside from a player's autograph I haven't seen writing on a card that I have felt enhanced it. If it was something unique I can see how it would be possible.

I do not have a problem with a collector removing writing or glue or anything that was not on the card originally.

Love the backs of those Beatles cards. The Bob Gibson is just defacing it, not enhancing. I sold a Lew Alcindor rookie that had his name scratched out and relabeled "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" and have seen a lot of teams scratched out on vintage cards with the new team written over it.
Definitely the cards owned by the early founders of the sports card collecting cadre (Burdick et al) are enhanced by the writing on the backs, IMO. Plus the proofs submitted to the Patent Office have been defaced but improved.

I was just guiding folks to some nice examples :)

I love this card because it has writing on it, not in spite of it. Somebody used it as a toy and not a keepsake. Saved me a few shekels 81 years later as well...

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...8-20-53-03.png

This one's not bad.

Buck Barker...

Attachment 205330

Buck's writing on back

Attachment 205331

Buck's Stamp

Moriarty T206
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...ps62180bbc.jpg

Really depends. All of the Zeenuts have an added charm in my opinion. In my card's case, even though Im sure some kids turned a bunch of cards into a game (see Barker or Lajoie game for comparison); it still drives me n-u-t-s. If I could remove the writing or replace the card, I would in a heartbeat.

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Uncatalogue-able Dizzy Dean Premium
 

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/2042957/view/DEAN_NEW.JPG

Bought this years ago....This is rich---I reckon an early owner of this "1931 Metropolitan Studios St. Louis Cardinals Premiums Dizzy Dean" created such a meticulous and artistic masterpiece merely by expertly coloring in various parts of what had been just a regular sepia-toned photo/card that the grading company didn't recognize it for what it was , just an ''Altered'' card , and I fully expected it to come back in a protective slab with the grade of "Authentic". Heck , I just wanted it holdered for protection. Instead , I imagine the Vintage section grading specs guys spent a lot of time poring over source books and references before throwing their hands up and just returning it to me with a harried scribbled note dripping with defeat. They kept the grading fee though.
.. I must admit it is really well-done , though. The kid was good.

..So I still have it , loose , in a large plastic Stor-Safe.

..

After my collection was consigned I got back some things that the graders couldn't figure out. Some made sense, some didn't. The more esoteric the item the likelier it will happen. That would have had to be a big slab for a Met Studio card/premium.

My Dad bought one of the Obak sets from Buck before he passed. It was all henpecked up in Buck's writing. He broke it up and sold it at shows over the years. I would really like to own one of those cards.
On a related note, I picked up a horrendous Jim Brown rookie that I owned as a teenager. I hadn't owned it in 15 years and I found it on eBay thanks to the crayon stick figure on back. It had made its way to Illinois.
The Hindu Shag with his brief bio on back is my favorite T206 that I own.

The Hindu card has Buck Barker's handwriting, just in case....

Brian

I thought it might have been.... Wasn't sure. Thanks!

That is a great, great card in any event, Mike--wish it was part of my collection, as I eventually will be looking for one. For now, what I paid for my recent acquisition of a 1939 V351 Ted Williams got the wife upset enough that she insisted I finance the removal of wall paper and painting of a large portion of the house as her birthday present!

Highest regards,

Larry

Ganzel
 

looks like someone wrote his name on the front...

Neat card. Don't see those every day!!

Does anyone recognize this handwriting?

I usually shy away from writing on my cards, but my issues with writing (and condition overall) are inversely related to the rarity of the card. I am certainly not losing any sleep over Harry's position change.

Thanks. Here's a Buck Barker...

Buck was a legend in the hobby, that is for sure. I wish I had met him....

http://luckeycards.com/poletterbarker1.jpg

Doesn't enhance the card? PUH-LEEZE!
 

This is an AWESOME card and I truly wish I had this in my collection! (serious)

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...mokingPipe.jpg

Me either
 

Nice Steinfeldt, Bryan!

These pretty much all came marked up on "position" or team... much less important card, tho'

--
Mike

I have a number of cards with writing on it--they fit in my budget--but this is the only one I specifically sought out for the writing. There was something special about the Spanish writing on a Venezuelan card that made me really want this for my set.

http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/...psxo7yidoc.jpg

Mike: Thanks! I dig the Walker too. What is on the back of that card?

Chris: A mí me gusta!

John: I can make you one of those if you really like it :D