An example of a T206 card chemically altered on ebay

[atx840]

Great post Steve.

[usernamealreadytaken]

This came in a lot from an auction . . .

[Milton]

Thanks for the heads up! Good info

[curtis-cards]

I'm new and learning about T206's...

How would you classify this card? Altered? If someone is just picking up T206 cards and not worried about the grade, would this be a card to consider even though it has been chemically altered? I guess my question really is...Would you want this card in your collection knowing what you know about it?

[drcy]

Personally, I'd call it grade poor. It's been altered, though very possibly accidentally. My personal rule is to grade altered cards as poor, though many collectors grade them Authentic/Altered instead.

Lithography ink doesn't dissolve in water. It takes specific chemicals, including a common type of rubbing alcohol found in many bathrooms cabinets. There could have been an accidental spill some years ago when the card was in a drawer, garage or basement. It's not the fist time I've seen old cards damaged by solvent or chemical.

It wan't bleach, because only the ink is removed. The cardstock itself isn't brighter. I don't believe bleach dissolves ink, just whitens everything.

[mrvster]

just trying to educate