Million dollar mantle

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

As someone who collects full set runs and thus large volumes of cards, I tend to be in Dan's camp. If I was collecting just some players or some sets I might worry more about centering and perfect cards.

And that is how collectors are collecting nowadays, from what I can tell. If a set collector comes to my table at a show I know he isn't looking for my centered stuff as much as "can I knock a card or two off of his want list". On the other hand the guys wanting to collect and "invest" and have fun....and not pursue full sets, want better centering, focus etc....

[irv]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

...The crew in the cutting department at Topps didn't like my Nippy Jones either...


...

I wonder what he did or said to them to upset them like that?

Looking forward to receiving these 2 cards, as, aside from the centering, they look to be in really nice shape to me.

[savedfrommyspokes]

If a lower end card is my only choice due to cost, my choice on a higher priced/lower end card would be one with nicely formed corners, some honest wear, reasonable centering, minimal creasing versus a copy of a card with corner wear/rounding, more obvious creasing, and/or some sort of "intentional" front damage.

For these reasons, I prefer the left copy. The centering is consistent between these two copies, but the corner wear is far less obvious and the creasing is less noticeable on the left copy. The left copy's major flaw is the honest front surface wear which would be my preference over the right copy's rounding on corners and what appears in the scan to be light (pencil) marks to the left of Mantle's face.

However, I appear to be in the minority as to what qualities are more appealing (corner wear versus front surface wear), as the copy on the right sold for almost $5k more than the copy on the left.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

If a lower end card is my only choice due to cost, my choice on a higher priced/lower end card would be one with nicely formed corners, some honest wear, reasonable centering, minimal creasing versus a copy of a card with corner wear/rounding, more obvious creasing, and/or some sort of "intentional" front damage.

For these reasons, I prefer the left copy. The centering is consistent between these two copies, but the corner wear is far less obvious and the creasing is less noticeable on the left copy. The left copy's major flaw is the honest front surface wear which would be my preference over the right copy's rounding on corners and what appears in the scan to be light (pencil) marks to the left of Mantle's face.

However, I appear to be in the minority as to what qualities are more appealing (corner wear versus front surface wear), as the copy on the right sold for almost $5k more than the copy on the left.

Probably has more to do with the location of the surface wear. I don't mind surface wear or creases unless they are on the players face like the card on the left. I don't care how nice the rest of the card is, if the face area has issues I pass.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Probably has more to do with the location of the surface wear. I don't mind surface wear or creases unless they are on the players face like the card on the left. I don't care how nice the rest of the card is, if the face area has issues I pass.

I have always seen a card the way Ben does. These are picture cards, and the heart of a card is the face of the player. A collector may reassure themselves all day long about how great the centering is, or how you could draw blood with the sharp corners, or no creases, or brilliant color or focus of the picture. Notwithstanding, even if everything else is perfect, if there are problems on Mickey's face, the card is a disgrace, period. ---Brian Powell

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by brian1961

If there are problems on Mickey's face, the card is a disgrace]. ---Brian Powell

I'll buy a coffee mug or T-shirt with that on it. Who's printing'em up?

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I'll buy a coffee mug or T-shirt with that on it. Who's printing'em up?

I'll take that as a compliment, my friend. By the by, I love your new avatar photo of Mickey clouting a home run. Perfect! ---Brian Powell

[irv]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

If a lower end card is my only choice due to cost, my choice on a higher priced/lower end card would be one with nicely formed corners, some honest wear, reasonable centering, minimal creasing versus a copy of a card with corner wear/rounding, more obvious creasing, and/or some sort of "intentional" front damage.

For these reasons, I prefer the left copy. The centering is consistent between these two copies, but the corner wear is far less obvious and the creasing is less noticeable on the left copy. The left copy's major flaw is the honest front surface wear which would be my preference over the right copy's rounding on corners and what appears in the scan to be light (pencil) marks to the left of Mantle's face.

However, I appear to be in the minority as to what qualities are more appealing (corner wear versus front surface wear), as the copy on the right sold for almost $5k more than the copy on the left.

We are all different, thankfully, so I would take the card on the right as it presents much better, imo, than the card on the left.

That surface wear is as bad as a bad crease, imo, especially where it is on the card.

Creases, that don't interfere with the portrait, like in the corners, etc are far less bothersome than creases that cross the face/body.