An Ethical Thought Problem

[Volod]

"...Or do you just pass it off as a card, straight and plain (much as the Gretsky Wagner card has been, despite pretty strong claims it was cut from a sheet)."
Wasn't that card the first one graded by PSA when they opened up for business? I seem to recall some allegations that it was trimmed, but, man, was there a suggestion that an uncut sheet was found and cut up in 1980's?

[Exhibitman]

There is no ethical component per se to cutting down a sheet unless you are trying to pass off the resulting card as original for trade or sale. If that is your goal, I'd divide the cards into two classes: those meant to be cut out by the consumer and all others. If they were meant to be cut out by the consumer I see no issues at all. Wheaties, strip cards, etc., everyone knows that they originated at retail as sheets or strips and have been cut out by the consumer. If you are cutting down a Topps sheet to make a card of it in the hope that you can slip it past a TPG and get a high grade so you can sell it to someone without disclosure, however, I don't think it is brain-strainer to realize that you are doing wrong. The Golden Rule applies readily to the situation.