I wonder if the dude with the paper cutter lost his finger on this one?

[markf31]

Great information Ron! While I never worked in a professional print shop I did minor in graphic design when in college and after reading your post I can absolutely remember dealing with "fan cuts" while trying to accurately cut stacks of paper and card stock even with some more modern cutting equipment so I can absolutely believe this being an issue with tobacco cards in the early part of the 20th century.

If the card could be examined, more specifically the edges of the stock, outside of the case with a simple magnifying loop one could pretty easily determine if the cut is factory and original, or if it has been modified and cut after the fact. I would imagine this is a criteria that TPGs use in determining the authenticity of such a card but I don't know that.