Posted By:
Kevin"Do you think the 15% figure you used is across the board."
Based only on what I've inspected, 15%-20% is about the average across the board. High end as well as low. If you are looking for posts on other subjects there are many experts here that do far better than I could ever dream of.
"Perhaps Kevin could (out of the holder) but only he could answer that."
Out of the holder is best by far but in the holder is what I examine most. It's sometimes a tough call with tight fitting cards. So far so good though.
"he ought to disclose everything he knows to be true about the doctoring "industry"."
Yeah right, that's not gonna' happen. Conservation work..good one. I regress I am a conservationist! I know nothing about the doctoring "industry."
Barry, your auctions are perfect. Has there been conservation work done to those cards...yes, no, maybe? They would need to be inspected and not a grading company (under one minute) inspection. Getting cards graded at least eliminates most of the worry and keeps it above suspicion. I think that's the best you can do. Actually what else could you do?
John, as mentioned before, most grading companies could care less. I do tell everything to a single top-level grader plus give him "the scary cards" for the company archives. They are very appreciative and I am glad to help. When I discover something new, he is the first (and only) to know the step-by-step process.
Let's face it most of you already know what to look for and can spot basic alterations. On the tougher stuff, I just render an opinion based on experience and grouping together objective findings, however subtle. With the quality conservation work (like that?) being done, much of the identification is personal perception based on the knowledge level of the person examining the card. I am forever a student of the hobby...one can never learn too much.
Kevin