Ruined Ted Williams Check

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Is it possible the rest of the check is under the card itself? If one were to try to 'rescue' the cut, I mean, would the whole thing be under there?

I really could not say for certain, but I have never heard of that. I would doubt it very much.

[bbcard1]

Maybe I'm alone, but I don't see a cancelled check to the gas company as a priceless connection to a baseball icon. Done well, these have a much more productive life as part of a card, in my opinion...that said, the one shown in the op was not done well.

[packs]

I've said this before but before you condemn the card company I think you need to know that this check wasn't cut before they bought it and put it on a card. I see all kinds of things on eBay, from people who cut the two parts of someone's signature up into 2 signatures to people who cut up entire letters and sell them one word at a time. I think until someone finds the source document complete and in tact and can tie it to a mangled card, there might not be any history being destroyed by the card company.

[callou2131]

Originally Posted by packs

I've said this before but before you condemn the card company I think you need to know that this check wasn't cut before they bought it and put it on a card. I see all kinds of things on eBay, from people who cut the two parts of someone's signature up into 2 signatures to people who cut up entire letters and sell them one word at a time. I think until someone finds the source document complete and in tact and can tie it to a mangled card, there might not be any history being destroyed by the card company.

That would be even worse as there would be no real way to authenticate it if purchased that way. Also WHY would they purchase it this way? If they purchased it like that then they knew in advance they would be making a piece of crap card.

[packs]

I have no idea why, but I would think if you're going to cut it up anyway whoever buys these things for them might be looking for something like this.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by packs

I see all kinds of things on eBay, from people who cut the two parts of someone's signature up into 2 signatures to people who cut up entire letters and sell them one word at a time.

I've seen those, from names like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. To the best of my knowledge such items come from documents that have been verified to have no historical significance, such as surveryor's papers or mundane legal documents. Yes, in an ideal world even documents like these wouldn't be cut, but they do allow the true collector an opportunity to own an example of handwriting from a historical figure for a contextually low price.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Maybe I'm alone, but I don't see a cancelled check to the gas company as a priceless connection to a baseball icon. Done well, these have a much more productive life as part of a card, in my opinion...that said, the one shown in the op was not done well.

You are not alone, as I agree with you and think you have stated it nicely (including the "not well done" part). I like baseball cards and I like when they incorporate an auto of a deceased player. Int his instance, this autograph should NOT have been used for this card.

[GrayGhost]

There is no excusing desecration of a great autograph for this. These cards can be nice if done right, this is a travesty and a disgrace

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Maybe I'm alone, but I don't see a cancelled check to the gas company as a priceless connection to a baseball icon. Done well, these have a much more productive life as part of a card, in my opinion...that said, the one shown in the op was not done well.

You may not be alone, but a cancelled check IS a connection to the person who wrote it... maybe not a "priceless" one in the case of a check to the gas company, but still, it's a complete document signed by the person in question. I collect checks signed by celebrities and I'm repulsed when I see ANY check cut up and used as a "cut" signature.

The only exception MIGHT be in cases when the checks are "damaged" by the family before going out. The only Bowie Kuhn checks I recall seeing are those where only the right half exists, maybe the family tore them to protect sensitive information (addresses, routing numbers). If a cut signature comes from a check that is known to have been already "damaged," then using it as part of a card might be acceptable.