[Archive]

Posted By: Brian C Daniels

But everyone on this thread except possibly Pete knows nothing about magnification: Koos' post as usual,sounds like it is stating something but what he does not know about magnification is that there are a few different types and if you do not use a loupe corrected for specific types of curvature when you observe specifically the edges of cards you will miss much......regardless of the degree of magnification. (((( I wrote a letter explaining this to a bunch of guys on here to whom I sold the "proper" loupes last year ))))) he also does not know that deliberate VISIBLE alterations are sometimes a smoke screen for other variables that can encompass DOCtoring of cards. In other words,a removed,stretched crease and/or pushing of ink and or air brushing can be less noticable if you manipulate cardboard slightly in other areas in order to create a distraction. This commonly occurs PRIOR to a card being sold encapuslated by a grading company..........also,dying and other methods of deliberate aging of cardboard,wood and ink and oil will not be detected by magnification regardless of how powerful the lens is.........as a certified gemologist I was trained in "color". Color has EXACT designations so you can explain via e-mail or on the phone what color (exact) something is!..cardboard,when processed,has EXACT colors e.g.. pms 342 et......hue creates the need for these designations or we would all have to rely on our subjective perception to determine any color outside of the solar spectrum,the true and pure seven colors. I personally can look at and feel a piece of paper or canvas ( I restore paintings ),and can come within a reasonable period of guessing how old it is.Last ramble.......if you have been collecting for more than let's say 25 years,you know little things......e.g. 1976 Topps Dennis Eckersley cards almost always have a small black print spot on the bottom name plate line.Many of us know of specific cards that are almost always off centered ( a 57 Topps Aaron ) or reverse any E-92 Croft's Cocoa for example.....and how many times have vintage collectors seen an E-102 Evers centered 99/1 top to bottom....many ,many times. Calling to suspect a card that does not "feel" right or even "smell" right and is well centered of this issue would surely cause me an extra five minutes of examination before I felt fully confident that the card is worthy of encapsulation....... experienced collectors know what cards from what issues have particular problems like the examples mentioned above........a magnifying lens of intense power will not help you with this type of knowledge.......and yes!!,I did state "smell" the paper..paper smells different depending on age and type of print processing on the raw paper itself....it would be fairly easy to submit cards to you folks that you would surely certify that I have restored. I am not certain as to what kind of equipment you use to review cards but if your close to WAYNE or TOMS RIVER let me know! I'd like to see it.. Point being......you may be attempting to rely way,way too much on magnification when it is only a fraction of detection by way of only one sense,your sight........and with magnification that if not curved properly distorts. Good luck! You need a vintage grader that has a little more than card shop owner experience! : )