Question: why not buy authentic over low grades?

[bobbyw8469]

$120....looks like an '8'.



$2,250.......uhhh.......all things being equal, I'd rather have the one that was $120, thank you very much!

'Nuff said.....

[Bestdj777]

I have no problem with authentic cards assuming they are properly labeled. I agree with you that they are often much more attractive than the PSA 1s. And, my preference is to get the best looking card available for the budget.

[drc]

If you're aware of the market values, I think there's nothing wrong with buying Authentic. There are some nice looking Auth cards and some butt ugly Poor.

[conor912]

Authentic cards have some unknown sketchiness to them. Some collectors avoid them like the plague, while others embrace them for your very reason.....a fraction of the cost. Most collectors i know have varying degrees of OCD and dont want the stigma attatched to their collections, but if having an altered card doesn't bother you, then by all means buy Auth.

[frohme]

Some cards that get the Auth designation may not actually be "altered", but are categorized that way as there's either a question about the actual state of the card, or there' not a separate way to categorize in the grader's system.

One such category that comes to mind is the "factory cut, but too small". A number of early cards have this, including a good number of T207's - the cuts look normal, just the card is undersized.

Posted in another thread, here's what I believe is such an example.



I'd pick this card up in a heartbeat, any day, and 5 times on Sunday.

Mike

[Idiottax]

I've also felt that part of it is when you entered the hobby as well. Having only bought pre-war cards for the last two and a half years, I never felt any stigma associated with buying knowingly trimmed cards, or even gave it much thought, other than a great way to buy sharp cards at a tremendous discount. I think if I became involved earlier or was more interested in high-grade cards than low-grade cards with an affinity for period writing, perhaps in my youth, I would feel differently about the practice of trimming as well.

From my perspective, I paid the same amount for both Mathewsons shown below and was very happy with both of them, though the back on the Dark Cap is mostly covered in scrapbook paper and the lower right hand corner on the white cap was trimmed to make five, sharp corners.



I have number of other knowingly trimmed cards and never felt they detracted from the aesthetic of my cards or collection.

[WWGjohn]

I'd rather have a hole in my card than a hole in my binder.

John