Should one CUT up an UNCUT SHEET or leave it alone...

[Archive]

Posted By: RICHARD LLOYD

Qestion??? I have several UNCUT sheets of old cards and wondering what the thought is on cutting them into singles?? I would perfer to have it cut and have the cards in sleeves..However, does the value really change that much? or does it matter...
any thoughts
Best
Dick

[Archive]

Posted By: T206Collector

I don't think anyone would tell you otherwise, unless the cards were worthless to begin with.

[Archive]

Posted By: Ronald Haynes

Hi, just curious, how old is old? Uncut sheets prior to the 1960's are virtually non-existant (at least to my knowledege).

And I agree, never cut!

Thanks,
R Haynes

[Archive]

Posted By: RICHARD LLOYD

One is a 1920's W-card sheet with some baseball players
while the other is a 1966 Tolodo Mudhen sheet...

[Archive]

Posted By: steve k

Cards are always worth more uncut.

[Archive]

Posted By: Paul

I would leave them uncut. But I'm not sure if it is true that they are always worth more in uncut form. I remember seeing some Goudey sheets with multiple Ruths sell for less than $100K, but if one of those Ruths from the middle of the sheet graded a 9, it might be worth $100K all by itself. (I know that grading companies claim to be able to detect that a card was taken from an uncut sheet, but I think this has to be nonsense. All cards were originally taken from an uncut sheet, it's just a question of when).

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

It's back to our old friend supply and demand, and there are far fewer uncut sheets than single cards, so uncuts will always be worth more.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

In the future you can cut up the sheets if desired. Once cut up, you can't put them back together if desired.

Similar situation with unopened wax packs and boxes.

[Archive]

Posted By: JJ

The purist would want you to keep the sheet intact, but if you are going to grade and trade/sell then you want to cut. I have cut up a 1957, 1960 and a 1962 Topps sheet. My profit from these cards was 5 fold from the orginal price that I paid for the sheets. This included the grading and the cutting. I did this to fuel my vintage card buying. I would not do this to a real vintage sheet but it was only a couple of Topps sheets.

[Archive]

Posted By: mike mullins

how would you go about it? Take it to a printer? I'd imagine that you'd want something that was VERY precise -- my paper cutter at work probably wouldn't cut it.

Just curious about what to do with my sheet of Ty Cobb-Ty Cobb backs,

mm

[Archive]

Posted By: JimB

Uncut sheets are historical artifacts of our hobby. Please don't cut it.
JimB

[Archive]

Posted By: jj

I had all my sheets cut by ASA in Fl. I don't remember what they charge but it was reasonable and there were no bad cuts. They did one heck of a job.

[Archive]

Posted By: Harry

I agree with the majority that you have unique items on your hands and they should not cut them up. Frame it proudly!

On the grading side, cutting a card from an uncut sheet that came in an uncut form (i.e. in a gum pack and not on the back of a snack cakes box) consitutes trimming. Even if it is trimmed perfectly to all "proper" dimensions. Top tier grading companys should be able to detect this.

Harry

[Archive]

Posted By: steve k

<<< I have cut up a 1957, 1960 and a 1962 Topps sheet. My profit from these cards was 5 fold from the orginal price that I paid for the sheets. >>>

You got very lucky in this regard.

Most if not virtually all uncut sheets this old have surface wear, marks, indentations, creases, etc., on all the cards to some degree. Even if the cards were "properly" cut from the sheet and even with the now razor sharp corners, with the surface wear these cards should not be given a high grade. PSA will not even grade these cards. So from both a collector and value viewpoint, keep the cards uncut.

[Archive]

Posted By: jj

I am sorry but PSA did grade 3 of my cards, 2 from 1960 and 1 from 1962. The 57 sheet did not have anyone of importance and wasn't a full sheet but one of only 24 cards. I have not had any of my cards that were cut from a sheet returned to me because they thought they were cut from a sheet. I have cards graded by PSA, CSA, SGC and SCD without any returns. Like I said before if it was a vintage sheet I wouldn't cut it up. Topps sheets are a whole different story. The only Topps sheets I would keep are from the 51 Allstars 52, 53 set and the 67 Stand ups. Yes, I would even cut up a 1955/56 sheet if I could find one.