Grading postcards with erasure marks

[destijl03]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

The issue isn’t so much with the writing as it is with the erasure marks. I actually prefer writing on my postcards, but it appears that someone has taken a pencil eraser and erased the heck out of a couple of areas where writing used to be. I’ll try to get pics up soon.

Edit: Added pic. I can’t really get a pic that does it justice but you can see where writing used to be and someone erased it. The surface where it’s been erased also feels smoother than the rest of the back. So that’s where I’m thinking it might get the Altered designation instead of a numeric grade.

[Leon]

It shouldn't get an A because of erased markings. But, as Forest Gump "the grader" said, "Grading is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get."

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[Exhibitman]

If the indentations or marks are visible, expect a 1.5-2 at best. This one got nailed for indentations:



As for vintage markings, I have found that some add value, especially postal cancellations in season that provide some provenance:





Sorry for the crappy scan on this one, but it is a Drysdale signed PC sent from Brooklyn in 1957, and I definitely would pay a premium for a card like this as compared to a signed but unused card, because I can date it to his rookie season:



Well, actually, I did pay a premium...and would happily do it again:



This PC with Babe Ruth (among others) was mailed in 1932, which enhances the desirability for me because it is demonstrably career contemporary:



I think of it in those terms because in boxing, markings associated with big fights have long been desirable and generate premiums regardless of condition. This one would get perhaps a 2 at best but the markings indicate it was mailed out a few weeks after Willard won the title from Jack Johnson in 1915 (4/5/15) and would command a significant premium as a result.



Just to bookend it, this one was mailed from Toledo, Ohio the day (7/4/19) that Willard lost the title to Jack Dempsey in Toledo.

[Vintagedeputy]

Love me some slabbed postcards!

[destijl03]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

If the indentations or marks are visible, expect a 1.5-2 at best.

It’s a little hard to tell for sure, but it seems like there may be some indentations. I’m honestly fine with any grade other than Altered! Also, those are some amazing postcards, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Lucas00

If there's a gently written dealer price on the back, Erase it. If it's anything to do with actually being sent. Don't.

Whoever erased before probably used the wrong kind of eraser. I don't know what a grader will think about that.

There’s no dealer price, but there are what appear to be inventory notes from the dealer. Unfortunately there’s no writing having anything to do with being sent, only dealer markings. It’s impossible to tell or know for sure, but whoever erased before, it looks like they used just a normal pencil eraser. If any postcard dealers are reading this, please please please stop writing on the actual postcards!

[Exhibitman]

Artgum eraser.