How Much More Will You Pay For Great Centering?

[Touch'EmAll]

That '52 Bowman Mays is a dandy.

[irv]

Originally Posted by skelly423

This may come across as a cop-out, but my answer is it depends. Centering is a big part of my evaluation of a card, but I also look for bright colors (no fading or staining) and good registration. I won't buy a card if it doesn't have all 3 elements.

I'm quite happy to pay a premium if I can check all 3 boxes, but the amount of the premium depends on the scarcity of the card, the number of issues with the particular card/set. For example 1933 Goudey doesn't have a lot of centering issues, so I don't pay much of a premium for well centered cards. By contrast 1952 Topps can be difficult to find well centered examples of certain cards, so I'm comfortable with a bigger premium for centering.

When I first rejoined the hobby back in 2016, I purchased many 52 Topps cards that weren't exactly centered, if you know what I mean? That has changed now once I became more educated and read on here numerous times how important centering was. I have now, for the most part, become fairly anal when it comes to centering, but then again, since most of my remaining needed cards are pricey, I won't be as anal with those if and when the time comes.

A fairly recent upgrade for me, and if I happen to come across a more centered copy of other cards in my collection, I will also give them a shot if the upgrade is significant enough.

[Doc]

Most of the time I am just glad to own the card. There is always a chance to sell and upgrade later.

Doc

[G1911]

Nothing. I will pay a premium for a heavy miscut, but centering is both a natural defect from the techniques of a century ago, and doesn't really impact a cards visual aesthetics to my eyes. I don't do high grade, but things like registration, brightness, etc. have a much greater impact on how a card looks.

I will take a creased up, pinholed and wildly off center Old Judge with a bright image over a PSA 6 with 50/50 centering that's fading.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

For me, it depends on the card. If it is a high dollar card that is notoriously off centered (i.e. the majority of the cards are off centered like the 52 Bowman Mays) then I have no problem adding an off centered version of that card to my set...I will not pay a premium for a rare centered copy.

However, if a higher dollar card can be found fairly easily with decent centering, I will NOT try and save money by finding an off centered version...I'll buy a reasonably centered card for market price.

And for common cards to fill my set...centering is not an issue. While I wouldn't want an entire set of off centered cards, i don't mind my commons being a mix of centered and off centered...and sometimes I will intentionally pick up a cheaper common that is very off centered to allow me to check it off the list at a lower price.

The 1952 Bowman set is great example. I'm fine with an off centered Mays (because the majority of them are off centered....but I held off on buying a Mantle until I found one with decent centering (not 50/50, but not bad)...here are my copies of both of those cards from my set...and I'm very happy with each one):

Mays.JPG

Mantle.JPG

[JollyElm]

It's all about sharp corners for me. Centering (as long as it's relatively decent and not a smack in the face) is much further down on the list.

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

It's all about sharp corners for me. Centering (as long as it's relatively decent and not a smack in the face) is much further down on the list.

I'm pretty much on the same track Darren, especially for my PC-type cards.
I've written about it before, but I tend to go for "overall appeal", and that includes everything, corners, centering, registration, print etc etc.
(any projects I may do, are a bit different though.....)

Give me a sharp card that is "respectable" in all areas, and I will take that over a beautifully centered card, that has other notable problems.

I said it a few years ago, but I think the trend may ultimately move in that direction, and not strictly for the centering purists....but thats just my opinion.

All that aside, it sure is nice to find a beautifully centered mid grade (and up) card.
Its getting harder and harder as time goes on to find the extremely well-centered cards, as thats what so many have been going after for years now.

[robkas68]

As a favor to all of you, I will send you this perfect centered card for your garbage 73/30 Mantle rookie or perhaps a miscut t206 Wagner. No need to thank me.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by irv

When I first rejoined the hobby back in 2016, I purchased many 52 Topps cards that weren't exactly centered, if you know what I mean? That has changed now once I became more educated and read on here numerous times how important centering was. I have now, for the most part, become fairly anal when it comes to centering, but then again, since most of my remaining needed cards are pricey, I won't be as anal with those if and when the time comes.

A fairly recent upgrade for me, and if I happen to come across a more centered copy of other cards in my collection, I will also give them a shot if the upgrade is significant enough.

The color and clarity of the off center version makes it look much better to me. I like centering but it really depends. Many off Centered cards are great if they have eye appeal.

[dio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfpsTO4q3o&t=937s

go to start at 13:00
check the mantle and russell, see which one you guys think would rather have