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Marc S.I don't think many people are as concerned about 1/64 of an inch with 1960s Topps cards. A few thoughts of my own:
A) Yes -- there are variations in card size. However, the concern is that as time passes, there will be more of the "shorter, but normal" sized cards and less of the "larger, but normal" sized cards. This has pretty much evidenced itself in T-206 and other arenas. It is something to stay abreast of.
B) It seems like size variations with Topps was often associated with the distribution method. I have seen and handled quite a few examples of high-grade cards from the early 1960s that measured short -- but seemed to be consistent in size with other presentation sets. Thus, presentation sets are at least one source of cards that sometimes measure shorter than wax sources. I have heard similar things being said of some vending cards -- though that varies by year.
C)People will trim commons -- sad as it may be. Even mid-1960s commons in high-grade can command huge premiums on Ebay and other online auctions/sources. If someone can professionally trim a 1960s common card and get it past the graders -- there is a large profit potential there. So please just continue to be aware and to inspect all cards you purchase -- graded or otherwise.
D)I don't know many collectors who actively worry about cards that are 1/64 short -- if the card passes all of the other tests for alterations. Even 1/32 often is of little matter to many collectors. I think that once you get to 1/16 or more, though, esp. with 1960s Topps cards, it becomes an exponentially large concern.
Ken -- it seems like in general you are a pretty educated collector and could differentiate easily between many altered and original cards. Sometimes that paranoia is the best thing to have going into transactions. I assume that you also keep a small stash of altered cards in your collection to use as a benchmark from which to compare examples that you believe to be genuine.
Happy collecting.