53 Bowman Color Condition Debate With a Friend

Originally Posted by Tere1071

I remember those days well. We all recognized condition, but it wasn't that important; just having the card was the thing. My 53 Bowman Mantle that I had in the late 70s had a number written on the back, but I didn't care- I had a Bowman Mantle! When I see the group that collects pre 1920 vintage cards, it's interesting to see that the card trumps the condition. I know that's due to the scarcity, but even among post WW2 card collectors, it's also great to see that a card doesn't need to be an investment-portfolio item to be enjoyed.

I agree. One of the reasons I collect raw cards. If they look decent I'm happy especially on the really rare cards. Grading seems to bring about a lot of stress for collectors based on some threads I see. Heck, I'll never sell any cards. That will be someone else's problem. LOL.

[campyfan39]

Agree. I collect only pure cards (I detest the term "raw". as if being slabbed makes them "fresh"?)
I have freed many cards from their plastic prisons

Originally Posted by Wimberleycardcollector

I agree. One of the reasons I collect raw cards. If they look decent I'm happy especially on the really rare cards. Grading seems to bring about a lot of stress for collectors based on some threads I see. Heck, I'll never sell any cards. That will be someone else's problem. LOL.

Originally Posted by campyfan39

Agree. I collect only pure cards (I detest the term "raw". as if being slabbed makes them "fresh"?)
I have freed many cards from their plastic prisons

Me too. Both graded cards and action figures.

[Tere1071]

As I've chronicled previously, I started assembling my 53 Bowman color set in December of 2019 and completed it by late April of 2020. At first, I was purchasing only unslabbed cards off of eBay and still do, but I ran into situations where I was receiving altered cards. I saw two that were relisted on eBay this evening, the Spahn and the Martin/Rizzuto cards.

Since then I've focused more on slabbed cards in the 5-6 range, which is the condition that I find satisfactory. My major stars, Mantle, Musial, and Reese are in vg/ex and will probably remain so; my Berra is an o/c 5, but most of my set isn't perfectly centered which is okay with me. The only real issues I have with collecting are rounded corners, trimmed cards, and wrinkles/creases. There are three cards with creases in my set and about another thirty with corner issues which I'm seeking to upgrade. As for my slabbed cards, I really don't want to break them out, but instead, trade them for their "natural equivalents" someday.