Graded Spalding Cut out Pictures/Revisited

[drcy]

I agree with Barry in that I don't like the idea of people tearing out pictures from old publications to have them graded.

But if it's already torn out and the grader accurately labels, I won't blame them.

In case any of you missed it, there was/is a big date from PSA collectors because PSA graded several Nolan Ryan 'Pre-Rookie' pictures cut out from a 1966 Sporting News magazine, and included it as part of the Nolan Ryan registry. As a result, a PSA graded Mint 10 '1966 Sporting News Ryan handcut' sold for about $700 recently! You'll be relieved to know that, while they didn't it as sign of a the hobby apocalypse, many PSA collectors on the CU board thought grading a cut out magazine picture as if it was a quasi-card was highly dubious and opened a can of worms. One joked that the PSA 10 example sold for about $699 too much. Even the PSA registry loyalists wondered how such a thing could be included as required part of a player registry.

Oh, and in 'AAA graded 10 Putnam Dictionary Babe Ruth' fashion-- the 1966 Sporting News Ryan has a partial article on back and you can even the text through the front.

[ethicsprof]

There was a time when the vintage grading card companies filled an okay niche in the hobby,particularly once fraud took its hold on much of our beloved avocation. Now I worry a bit
about the speed with which they are sliding down weird slippery slopes by grading and authenticating items which often trap the novices and are unnecessary at best and solely motivated by profit and greed at worst. Some years back I had everything graded. In recent years, I've sent nothing in. I'm wary of this weird slippery slope. I understand full well that businesses inherently live to make a profit but I would hope that they would remember that they are often
also a service offered to the one and the many. I'd like to see the TPG companies wrestle with this before the weird slippery slope becomes not weird but usual and the service inexorably and irrevocably tainted. IMHO

all the best,
barry

[bgar3]

Apparently grading them gives them credibility and value to some people. i personally do not get it, and hate that, in some cases, books are being destroyed. but, as someone once said, "concerning taste no arguing is". I can't wait to see a xerox copy of the Nolan Ryan news photo, in a limited edition card 1 of 1, hand made, encased in plastic with a number on it. WOW.
By the way, Leon your New Orleans team photo came from a book not a magazine, THE BOOK OF BASEBALL, by Patten and Mcspadden, 1911, pages 115-116.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bgar3

By the way, Leon your New Orleans team photo came from a book not a magazine, THE BOOK OF BASEBALL, by Patten and Mcspadden, 1911, pages 115-116.

Thanks, I appreciate the correction. I would hope the page I have came from a book that was not worth saving otherwise. Even though I don't have a problem with correctly grading them I do generally take issue with cutting up any historical items (unless they are already ruined).

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by bgar3

Apparently grading them gives them credibility and value to some people. i personally do not get it, and hate that, in some cases, books are being destroyed. but, as someone once said, "concerning taste no arguing is". I can't wait to see a xerox copy of the Nolan Ryan news photo, in a limited edition card 1 of 1, hand made, encased in plastic with a number on it. WOW.
By the way, Leon your New Orleans team photo came from a book not a magazine, THE BOOK OF BASEBALL, by Patten and Mcspadden, 1911, pages 115-116.

Bruce

I concur entirely with your post. It particularly irks me when well-known sellers who know better refer to this New Orleans photo as coming from a "folio", implying it was meant to be removed from the book. Complete crap.

Max

[Leon]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Bruce

I concur entirely with your post. It particularly irks me when well-known sellers who know better refer to this New Orleans photo as coming from a "folio", implying it was meant to be removed from the book. Complete crap.

Max

For the record, I bought it from a very experienced hobbyist/dealer and he told me it came from a folio. I never knew it came from a book until this thread.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by Leon

For the record, I bought it from a very experienced hobbyist/dealer and he told me it came from a folio. I never knew it came from a book until this thread.

Leon

I would think that your seller has some explaining to do

Max

[Leon]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Leon

I would think that your seller has some explaining to do

Max

Well, I bought it in a group so probably won't go back to him. As of yesterday, and I am sure today too, he still has at least one, if not more, of these same types (not exact same pic but from the same book) listed on ebay as coming from a portfolio. I consider it a learning experience as I do everything else. If I ever sell it I will make sure I list it as coming from the book it did. That book is quite an expensive book, I noticed, as I was doing some more research yesterday. Live and learn. And yes, of course, he should say where they really came from if he knows.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Leon

Well, I bought it in a group so probably won't go back to him. As of yesterday, and I am sure today too, he still has at least one, if not more, of these same types (not exact same pic but from the same book) listed on ebay as coming from a portfolio. I consider it a learning experience as I do everything else. If I ever sell it I will make sure I list it as coming from the book it did. That book is quite an expensive book, I noticed, as I was doing some more research yesterday. Live and learn. And yes, of course, he should say where they really came from if he knows.

It may have been removed from a book, but it looks frameworthy...I'd frame it up if I were you Leon.