71 Topps Mays Flaw

[Tere1071]

This is the Mays that I have in my 71 Topps set. I would rate it as being in excellent condition, but there is a flaw on the card to the right of his cap. I've seen this occasionally on other cards, but there's a dimple on the image. What causes that?

Happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

[quitcrab]

I think dimples are hereditary.

[Tere1071]

For humans, perhaps; for decorative pieces of paper/cardboard not so much.

Happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

[bigfanNY]

Two main causes are an imperfection in the cardboard or moisture or air that forms a bubble under the paint. Just part of the process. And just 2 of the many things that happen to cards before during and after they are placed and sealed in a wax pack.

[Tere1071]

Thank you for the response. Would it his particular defect/blemish affect the condition of the card? One day, I will upgrade it for a card in ex-mint condition. I have always thought of this particular card as being in excellent condition, would it be more accurate to describe it as being in vg-ex?

Phil l aka Tere1071

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Tere1071

Thank you for the response. Would it his particular defect/blemish affect the condition of the card? One day, I will upgrade it for a card in ex-mint condition. I have always thought of this particular card as being in excellent condition, would it be more accurate to describe it as being in vg-ex?

Phil l aka Tere1071

I think if you want us to express an opinion on the grade, you're going to need to give us less blurry scans. Plus it would be nice to see the back.

[bigfanNY]

Phil
JMHO and I tend to grade tough because thr TPG's grade tough. Yes it is a surface defect so will take it down. All 4 corners have wear, the edges also show wear and the overall color and registration show wear as well. I would grade this card in the 3 range assuming the back is good. 71 Mays cards are difficult in high grade. And when you look to upgrade you are going to look for a bit to find a card that represents the current standard. What I am saying is since the current standard is very tough a 71 Mays graded today in a 6 is going to be very different from a 71 Mays in an older PSA holder. And very very different from a SGC 71 Mays in an older case. So be picky you only want to upgrade once. Best case senerrio is you find a nice raw copy that you like and add it to your set.

[Tere1071]

I'm also strict on my grading and I have seen cards in vg-ex condition that show more wear than my current Mays. The back of the card is centered and has no wear or markings. You're right about the difficulty in finding one that is centered and has little to no wear.

Currently, I am trying to upgrade the commons that are notorious for being off-center without them going into the mid to high three figure range in terms of price. As for an upgrade for the Mays, I'll have to settle for something that is excellent mint, whether is graded or not.

Thank you for the feedback and happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

[Tere1071]

Originally Posted by raulus

I think if you want us to express an opinion on the grade, you're going to need to give us less blurry scans. Plus it would be nice to see the back.

Unfortunately, the camera on my phone sucks so that's the best that I can provide.

Phil aka Tere1071

[Bigdaddy]

I sent in a recent SGC submittal that included a 1983T Tony Gywnn that I had picked out of a stack of Gwynns. Had looked at all of them with a loop and thought this one had the best combination of centering, corners and edges. Thought it would be at least an 8.

When I got it back it was a 5 and upon further inspection I could see the dimple on the surface. I'm sure it was that way from Topps. Spent so much time on the corners and centering that I just overlooked the surface.

[DHogan]

Originally Posted by Tere1071

I'm also strict on my grading and I have seen cards in vg-ex condition that show more wear than my current Mays. The back of the card is centered and has no wear or markings. You're right about the difficulty in finding one that is centered and has little to no wear.

Currently, I am trying to upgrade the commons that are notorious for being off-center without them going into the mid to high three figure range in terms of price. As for an upgrade for the Mays, I'll have to settle for something that is excellent mint, whether is graded or not.

Thank you for the feedback and happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

Phil,

I'm only three cards away from finishing my 1971 set. The Rollie Fingers card #384 has been a pain in the backside for me trying to find even a nearly centered card.

[Eric72]

Sadly, the surface of the card seems to be the most overlooked aspect of its condition.

Seemingly everyone these days is focused on centering. The card can have dimples, pimples, and poor registration. If it's centered, though, the seller will say it has "great eye appeal." Eye of the beholder, I guess.

Collectors seemed to do the same thing when I was a kid, only the focus was on corners. The card could have been off-centered, faded, and speckled with print spots. So long as it had sharp corners, the seller would have said, "it's still in mint condition, all that other stuff happened at the factory."

[Tere1071]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Sadly, the surface of the card seems to be the most overlooked aspect of its condition.

Seemingly everyone these days is focused on centering. The card can have dimples, pimples, and poor registration. If it's centered, though, the seller will say it has "great eye appeal." Eye of the beholder, I guess.

Collectors seemed to do the same thing when I was a kid, only the focus was on corners. The card could have been off-centered, faded, and speckled with print spots. So long as it had sharp corners, the seller would have said, "it's still in mint condition, all that other stuff happened at the factory."

I used to be 100% sharp corners and as long as it wasn't miscut, I would consider it for my collection. About 30-50% of my collection would be considered off-center. Now, I take centering into some consideration, particularly if it's one of those cards that is difficult to find. The 71 Topps set is one of my favorites and I've decided to "revise" it a bit by upgrading those cards that are difficult to find perfectly centered. Every once in a while, I'll find of these cards perfectly centered, but the rest of the card is junk; life ain't fair.

A while back I started a thread asking collectors which 71s are difficult to find centered but it garnered a tepid response. Not all of them are high dollar cards and hopefully don't become so. Back to eBay...

Happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

[Gorditadogg]

Phil, just like Bigdaddy, I've had cards come back from PSA as 5s because of print bubbles. That was a few years ago. And I don't know what they are doing now or why.

Good luck with your set!

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[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Tere1071

Every once in a while, I'll find of these cards perfectly centered, but the rest of the card is junk; life ain't fair.

Happy collecting!

Phil aka Tere1071

Ain't that the truth. Preach it, brother.

[jchcollins]

Agreed that beyond noticeable creases and wrinkles, the surface often gets a pass on many things.

I can't tell from your pictures, but odds are if the dimple doesn't cause a super obvious hit to eye appeal, it will not be treated harshly. My '62 Rookie Parade Uecker has something similar to this that is very small, just to the right of Bob. It's not super unsightly, but caused a slightly different colored "bubble" that is there if you are looking for it. SGC still gave the card a 6 on other attributes, my guess is that the "blip" that I see holding the card at an arm's length didn't figure at all into the grading.

[Tere1071]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Agreed that beyond noticeable creases and wrinkles, the surface often gets a pass on many things.

I can't tell from your pictures, but odds are if the dimple doesn't cause a super obvious hit to eye appeal, it will not be treated harshly. My '62 Rookie Parade Uecker has something similar to this that is very small, just to the right of Bob. It's not super unsightly, but caused a slightly different colored "bubble" that is there if you are looking for it. SGC still gave the card a 6 on other attributes, my guess is that the "blip" that I see holding the card at an arm's length didn't figure at all into the grading.

I almost upgraded it this weekend, but instead, I picked up other needs for the collection. The card may not be perfect, but it's far from being a filler.

Happy collecting to all!

Phil aka Tere1071

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Tere1071

I almost upgraded it this weekend, but instead, I picked up other needs for the collection. The card may not be perfect, but it's far from being a filler.

Happy collecting to all!

Phil aka Tere1071

Right. The key for me is overlooking minor flaws that almost all vintage cards have in some way and still being happy with something if the overall eye appeal isn't affected. I usually manage to do this, though I have random OCD that likes to rear it's head sometimes if I'm not paying attention. I try not to lose sight of the fact that there are some things that make vintage cards what they are, that are not necessarily applicable to modern cards.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Right. The key for me is overlooking minor flaws that almost all vintage cards have in some way and still being happy with something if the overall eye appeal isn't affected. I usually manage to do this, though I have random OCD that likes to rear it's head sometimes if I'm not paying attention. I try not to lose sight of the fact that there are some things that make vintage cards what they are, that are not necessarily applicable to modern cards.

If you really had OCD you wouldn't put a stray apostrophe in "its".

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