You won't believe this...

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Posted By: MW 

This is easily one of the worst grades I've seen in a long time -- from ANY grading company. And on a higher ticket card, no less!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1974572414

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Posted By: leon

Why?....with the corners being 60-70 and the chipping and the centering, are you saying it's too high or too low? I think it's pretty close, without having it in hand to see it better...maybe there's something I'm missing?...regards

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Posted By: jeff s

Leon-

While I can't speak for MW, the paper loss on back (especially on a post-war card) should reduce the grade to AT LEAST VG or less. Especially in combination with the wax stains. And it's not like the front is so spectacular as to merit a special exception.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

I was about to chime in and say what's so off about a 4?

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

I don't know what the grade should be. 3? 2? (seems a bit harsh). I'd take the thing out of the case and try to sell it on the basis of the nice picture on the front.

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Posted By: leon

I guess I didn't let the back of the card download...no way is this a 4....at best a 2 ..sorry about that....regards all

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Posted By: jay berhens

The back is also completely off center with back of another card starting to show. Geez, maybe I should send my Indian cards to GAI :p

Jay

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Posted By: Bruce Moreland

Is that even wax on the back, or is it tape?

brue

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Posted By: BOTN

Bruce is correct. That is not wax. It is tape residue. Wax or even gum would not leave that pattern of a stain. Someone got a gift.

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Posted By: Robert

I think since the back is off so far it should not be any better than Good {2}. If you look very close on the right side you can see the start of the red box of the card under Mantle on the sheet. That with the paper loss should give this card a 2. The front is very nice and I think if the card goes for 4900 it is a very good price for a Rookie Mickey Mantle. I have seen worse Mantles go for a lot more on Ebay. Regards Robert

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Posted By: Bruce Moreland

I don't know what to make of the centering on the back.

The red block overhangs on the left side, so I would tend to not call it a central part of the design. The important elements on the back are all there, and not horribly centered. None of the text is missing. If it weren't for the red block, you'd say nothing about the centering.

You can see some of the next card, but it appears that you can see all of this one, so perhaps this card is a little big.

I'd analogize this to '53 Bowman Color, where the black diamond is sometimes snipped off a little bit. These cards aren't miscut.

I have much less experience than many of you, but if that is wax on the back, I'd call this VG because of the minor back damage. The scrapes on the back bother me less than a crease on the front. I would have to downgrade to G if that is tape. I don't think backs are anywhere near as important as fronts.

bruce

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Posted By: Albie O'Hanian

To me this card would have been better off if it was sold ungraded. There are so many qualifiers, and things to describe, that it cannot all be tied up into one grade. Somebody looking for a card with great eye appeal and no creases would be ecstatic to buy that card as G or VG.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

...

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Posted By: brian parker

to notice that the top of this card, on both the front and back scans, appears to dip in towards the middle? Perhaps it is a scan illusion? If not, how come no one else has mentioned this? Even though I am not a 52 Topps collector, I assume this is not normal.

Brian

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Posted By: brian parker

I bet you anything I was fooled by those little corner cutouts on the insert. Just shows you a non-graded card collector shouldn't expose his plastic ignorance.

Brian

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Posted By: BOTN

The right edge on both of the scans also has that bow to it. It is possible that it is an abnormality in the scan. If not then the card has been played with. I know the seller and that would not be characteristic of him to try and pass off.

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Posted By: MW

Greg --

I see what you're saying, but if you were pried out of a scrapbook, wouldn't your right side look like that too?