Altered? Who cares? 52T REA Mantle AUTH ALT

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Or are "The Times They Are A-Changin" - and the new crowd prefers an altered/doctored card to buy with their hard earned money because it looks better in spite of the fact it has been tampered with ?

This is a big one in my mind. We have all kinds of new collectors entering the market, none of whom have been "tainted" (terrible choice of wording) by how restoration has classically been frowned upon in this hobby. Several of these newbies are crossing over from other hobbies such as comic books, where restoration is considered wholly acceptable.

Remember, to the previously uninitiated, the general idea of restoration is seen as a good thing. We hear about it all the time: as someone else mentioned, with classic cars. Also, the fine art world, comic books, furniture, architecture. Restoration is everywhere and the word has very positive connotations when associated with practically anything else.