T-205's that are trimmed
 

Posted By: <b>mrc32</b><p>I have been picking up nice graded and ungraded examples for a few weeks. I wonder what people out there think about trimming of the T-series of cards. How prevalent is it? <BR><BR>Also- What are the exact measurements of a T-205? I have heard that the machines that cut the cards were not as precise as the machines that cut cards from the 50s. In other words the size can vary a little. <BR><BR>I recently purchased a T-206 buyback that contained a T-205 card in nice shape. I bought it in hopes to break it out and send it in for grading. I read the previous thread on buybacks and I'm a little concerned that mine might be trimmed as well-- that’s why I want the size measurements.<BR><BR>Does anyone know how companies like PSA or SGC come up with the evidence of trimming. Is there a method other than using a ruler and measuring it?<BR>

T-205's that are trimmed
 

Posted By: <b>TBob</b><p>They do suffer from being trimmed in the hope of getting those corners a little sharper. You don't often see the commons trimmed but I have seen some HOFers which appear trimmed. There is not as much trimming of T205s as T206s, IMHO. Perhaps that is because of the colored vs. white borders, not sure. There shouldn't be much if any differential in sizes on the T206s. They aren't like caramel cards which can vary a little or M116s which are all over the place. T205s should be 1 1/2" by 2 5/8".

T-205's that are trimmed
 

Posted By: <b>Marc S.</b><p>&lt;&lt;Does anyone know how companies like PSA or SGC come up with the evidence of trimming. Is there a method other than using a ruler and measuring it?&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>If a card measures short but was not trimmed, it will come back ungraded as "did not meet minimum size requirements"<BR><BR>One thing to learn is to look at the edges under loupe and evaluating the edge for material, toning, etc. Secondly, you can look to see if the card has "bat ears". <BR><BR>There are a ton of methods for detecting trimming -- most of them are very hard to quantify and describe. The best advice I could give in this matter is this: Purchase a number of lower-grade unaltered cards on Ebay or through some other source (e.g. from a trusted dealer or board member here). Then purchase some cards that have been trimmed -- and compare all the differences you can find in the altered vs. unaltered examples. <BR><BR>Sometimes you will see uneven edges. Sometimes you will see significant corner wear with no edge wear, whereby the whole edge may have been trimmed, thus leaving a nice sharp edge and "less bad" corners. <BR><BR>There are numerous things to look for -- and often trimming is just the tip of the barrel with some vintage issues (recoloring, bleaching, pressing, taking creases out, rebuilding corners, etc.) Many of the other board members here can opine on this with much more expertise than I -- but I still think the best way to learn is by owning some vintage trimmed cards. Heck -- you can even purchase packs of Topps from 1987 (for $.50 a pack!!) and try trimming a few of those cards with different cutting instruments -- see what evidence is left, and use that as a guideline.