Restore or not to restore? The ethics of.

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Posted By: Vanessa Phipps

I recently came across a very valuable card that had some paint on the back. I purchased this card at a local auction and when the auction was over a gentelmen bidding against me said that he has a place in Canada that can restore vintage cards to un dectible levels. He proceeded to show proof. WOW! My question is what and how do the members of this board feel about such things? If you can take a PSA 5 and turn it into an 8, what are the ethics of such a thing and how do you feel about it? I know it is a hot button topic at the moment with the Honus Wagner card now being questioned for such a practice. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Posted By: howard

I believe that it is okay to remove paint. It is not an original part of the card so I don't consider it to be "altering".

Howard

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Posted By: Anonymous

Many would say that if part of the cure remains (i.e. some solvent residue or smell) then it is not OK. I'm beginning to think otherwise since you are just replacing one foreign substance (paint) with another (solvent).

Trimming and rebuilding corners is definitely bad.

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

The restoration of cards is a personal preference decision. Some believe that cards should remain in the condition which they receive them, others contend that some types of changes are ok, while other types are not, and yet another faction supports any restoration.

Independent of your personal preferences in this regard, the heart of the issue is disclosure. Specifically, the alteration of a card to achieve a higher grade in order to have a favorable impact on the card's resale potential is fradulent, in my estimation. And it is against the law in at least one State.

There are professionals who do not even need your card as a starting point to recreate a perfect duplicate which will pass the muster of any grading company. And you do not have to go to Canada to get this service. One of the primier restoration services is located in Chicago.

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Posted By: leon

My stance is only popular with some but is....If I can take something off that wasn't there in the first place, with water and a cue tip or art eraser, I am ok with it. Anything else I am not so ok with....regards

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Posted By: andy becker

leon,
don't you want to refer vanessa to an auction house?

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Posted By: andy becker

ok everyone,
that was a joke. lighten up!

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Posted By: leon

I only saw your first post at first..... .....then the next one..thanks...I can use a few laughs about now...