[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Actually, crazy as it sounds-- I think the rare clarity of image/registration and the centering kind of overshadow that flaw of the single vertical line. At that grade level we know and expect there will be some flaw, and I have to say that line is serendipitously placed. For average money for its grade, hypothetically, I would say that is an above average looking card for its grade. One thing about the 51B that matters even more to me than centering is that registration/focus. Perhaps 1 in 10 or way less than that is as crispy clear as that card.

The alternative flaw I would expect would be a small crease/wrinkle such as in the Memory Lane 4, and the line is basically the same kind of thing. Bottom line, I would not mind looking at that card every evening at my desk, to unwind.

One thing we all tend to forget is that in this age of scans, a scan can really overplay a card's flaws. In hand, it can be a whole different story. One thing that works for me is to really pay attention to my initial first impression, my knee-jerk reaction, to a card, and listen to that impulse. When we first lay eyes on a card we have a gut instinct of, "nice card," or not. Gotta say, for me, that one got the "nice card" instinct at first sight. Afterwards, we can-- and will-- pick a card apart, and there will always be stuff for us to find if it's not a gem mint card (and even then, LOL). But there's a purity and truth to our first instinct as to whether it's nice or not. Hope that babbling helps, but it's Sunday and I'll rap cards ad nauseum to stave off the work week!

Matt that was my thinking too. The registration and color at least per the scan are pretty phenomenal and the centering well above average. The perfect can be the enemy of the good sometimes.