[steve B]

My thoughts in red.

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

The 2 hour interview thread got me thinking about uncut sheets.

I'm sure this is going to get some heated opinions but besides the travesty of destroying a rare uncut sheet, what are everyone's thoughts on cutting cards from an uncut sheet?

I'm generally against it. of course there are always exceptions

I can see an argument that a card cut from an uncut sheet is still a legit card. My gut tells me that cutting an uncut sheet is just wrong. But As I went through the different scenarios in my head, I came up with both objections and rationale.

• If the card is cut to the original manufacturers measurements, is it Authentic trimmed? Or Authentic Altered? If so, what's been altered? Because they were never intended to be issued as uncut sheets.
  I would prefer seeing them as altered. Especially sets that were issued as uncut sheets - 84 Nestles and sets issued both ways 83 Topps.
• What's the difference to having the card cut in the factory in 1909 or 1955 rather than 2024? Is the issue that the card's been cut with non-OEM equipment? Or that it was cut outside the original time period it was manufactured?
  Both, in some cases it could be very difficult to tell. The equipment changed very little for decades. There may still be differences.
• If the issue is to do with the time period, then is a card cut from an uncut sheet the equivalent of a Type 2 photo?
  That's an interesting way to look at it. The card is an original card, just not factory cut. The key is that in most cases it's done to increase the value and if not disclosed.... Ok, lets not go down that path.
• If the issue is that the card was cut without OEM equipment, then if someone had access to Topps's original cutting machines, would it be OK to cut them in 2024 if using the original equipment?
  I think not. But I can see someone disagreeing.
• What if it was an uncut sheet of strip cards (e.g W514 or W551s). Is it OK because those cards were meant to be hand cut? I know that people cut Hostess Panels to submit a single card for grading. This doesn't seem to raise alarm bells with anyone.
  My preference would be to leave an uncut strip of strip cards uncut.
  I'm sort of against seeing hand cut cards graded. I totally get that I'm very much in the minority thinking an A grade should be the only grade for sets like Hostess. That being said, bowing to reality, I'm not 100% against very roughly cut cards from boxes being tidied up a bit. It would depend on the set, If I had a 1910 orange border with big portions of the box sides showing I wouldn't want it cut. Hostess with thousands being available maybe? Box cards sure, the twinkies ones not so much.
• Is it because the original manufacturer didn't do the cutting? If so, can someone bring an early Topps sheet back to Fanatics/Topps for them to cut? Would it be OK then?
  That just wouldn't work, the current way of getting the sheets to be single cards is not at all the same process as what was done years ago. It's obvious with the cards in hand (and for at least some sets, not every edge was done the same way. )

Let's hear your thoughts.