Posted By:
Al C.risafulliI wanted to make a comment on Leon's poll, specifically with respect to the removal of ink.
In general, I don't do it. I stay away with cards with writing on them - I only have two: A T206 Matty and an Abner Doubleday CDV.
However, I also feel that if a card was marked and the mark was removed in such a way that it was ABSOLUTELY IMPERCEPTIBLE, and left no erasure marks or scrubs, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm sure I own more than a few. However, I think there are some important caveats:
1) E121 Herpolsheimers. ALL of these cards had pencil marks on them. When I see one without pencil marks, it makes me insane.
2) Any prewar card with a rubber stamp. I don't want these stamps removed, no matter where they came from. I feel like these stamps are part of the card - whether they're an ad stamp or the stamp of someone's name.
How's THAT for wishy-washy?
-Al