What's your opinion on owning altered cards?

[Republicaninmass]

While I'd not overpay for one, I dont see an issue owning a nice one. The consensus disagrees as 52 mantles altered with eye appeal are garnering some crazy prices. I cant figure it out. Maybe the buyer feels it might pass psa one day? I can only think with the supply of unaltered copies, these altered copies will fall out of favor with collectors, and priced come back to earth. I have no skin in the game

[hcv123]

From a market value perspective altered cards in general are poor investments. If you were talking just about any other 52 there wouldn't even be a "but", but you are talking about a 52 Mantle - the poster card for post war cards. If you get a nice eye appeal "A", I think you'll be okay.
For myself, I would tend to make exception for a super rare card that doesn't get offered sooner than one I couldn't currently afford.

[ullmandds]

I kinda agree with the op! I'm becoming more and more disenfranchised with my collection of high dollar slabs...and I get exponentially more enjoyment flipping through my binders. I also would love an early mantle for my binder and am warming to the idea of an altered copy.

[bnorth]

I would get the Altered card if the price was right.

The big plus is you know it is altered. I would guess the number of completely unaltered 52 Mantles is small and shrinking in size all the time. Just one card restorer admitted to working several hundred of them and that number is from a long time ago.

[conor912]

If I knew it was altered, paid accordingly, and couldn’t tell what the alteration was, I would absolutely pull the trigger.

[egri]

I have a few cards that are altered. I don't mind, as I think it makes the colors pop more (it shows up better in person), and it certainly made them cheaper to acquire. That being said, I do keep in mind that if I ever need to sell, the trimming will be reflected in the sale price.

[36GoudeyMan]

FWIW, I look at it this way: I own a few restored comics, but they are identified as such, with the nature of the restoration disclosed. I can get a slightly restored, barely touched Golden Age comic for a fraction (a medium fraction, not a tiny fraction) if I am willing to accept a comic with restoration like "staples cleaned" or "slight color touch on spine." I used to care what other collectors thought of "polluting" a pristine collection with some altered copies, but I frankly enjoy what I have and could care less what others think. If I ever sell, I would absolutely call attention to the documented alteration and let the buyer make a choice. I'm not in it to profit, so if the market for restored comics slips, I'm still OK having had them in my collection. I think altered cards may be heading that way, although slowly, and as long as there is disclosure. Good luck!!!

[ZiggerZagger]

I think it really depends on the Collector, but in particular depends on the card in question.

I've tended to avoid cards with Qualifiers and AA designations typically. It rankles my OCD...
But I ran across this E90-1 Cobb for my Cobb run last year, and for the eye appeal and 1k price, I just had no reason to say no.
I've enjoyed it, and have no plans to 'upgrade' it for a numerically graded copy, for what would cost a few times the price I'm sure.

I hope you find a '52 Mantle you'll be similarly happy with!

[Peter_Spaeth]

No thanks.

Doesn't bother me. I collect only raw cards and not for the investment. I wouldn't pay for one but also wouldn't throw one out if I came across one.

[Leon]

I prefer not to own them but have a few. As long as they are known when bought then it's ok for me.

**It's the millions of fraudulently altered cards in SGC and PSA numeric holders...as well as Beckett, I am concerned about.

.

[Seven]

I've purchased a couple of altered cards because of their eye appeal and the fact that they were almost too good to pass up at the prices I acquired them at. In the midst of the COVID boom, I bought a low graded 53 Bowman Mantle, but never got it as it was stolen from me. After being bummed about the situation for a while, I stumbled across an altered version of the card, for about half the price that I paid for the low graded one, and bought it instantly.

I think it's really up to you as the collector. Altered cards do offer the benefit of a lower price point, and it makes it a little bit easier to get a card you want, that looks presentable. I try to buy non altered cards when I can, but like I said sometimes there are deals that are almost too good to pass up. Or the struggle of finding a price point on a high dollar card that you wouldn't normally be able to get. As someone that eventually wants to own a 52 Topps Mantle as well, I can relate to it.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by 36GoudeyMan

FWIW, I look at it this way: I own a few restored comics, but they are identified as such, with the nature of the restoration disclosed. I can get a slightly restored, barely touched Golden Age comic for a fraction (a medium fraction, not a tiny fraction) if I am willing to accept a comic with restoration like "staples cleaned" or "slight color touch on spine." I used to care what other collectors thought of "polluting" a pristine collection with some altered copies, but I frankly enjoy what I have and could care less what others think. If I ever sell, I would absolutely call attention to the documented alteration and let the buyer make a choice. I'm not in it to profit, so if the market for restored comics slips, I'm still OK having had them in my collection. I think altered cards may be heading that way, although slowly, and as long as there is disclosure. Good luck!!!

Jeff,

I think for the most part 'restored' is a subset of 'altered', but I think the key is to defining the terms. I personally don't think that "staples cleaned" is 'altered', BUT it is 'restored'. Rebuilding pages is both 'altered' and 'restored', again IMO. But the key point is to define what is restored and what is altered (even if I didn't agree with the definitions).

For cards, we are currently and more closely equating the two terms. Removing pencil marks is an alteration, not restoration which would be more technically accurate. Once we better define the distinction within the hobby as a whole, 'restoration' might be more accepted. Assuming disclosure, of course. And another money making scheme for TPGs.

[drcy]

I've never liked deceptively trimmed cards. Wouldn't do that.

However, I've owned altered cards on the order of low-grade cards with pen and pencil marks, not deceptively trimmed, etc.

I've never had an interest in deceptively altered cards (ala PWCC), but I'd imagine there might be cases where I'd buy one, if the card is particularly special or rare and the price was right.

[almostdone]

I don’t seek them out but if the seller knew and disclosed as well as reflected in the price it honestly wouldn’t bother me. I do understand why it would bother some though especially if the only purchase slabbed cards. Since I collect lower grade raw with nice eye appeal for the sake of collecting and not investment it doesn’t bother me.

Here is an example I actually bought from another member here years ago. I was looking to make this display. The magazine was a gift to me and I already owned the Musial but was looking for a nice Williams that wasn’t expensive. A fellow member sold me this Williams which had come back from PSA as trimmed. He said he had purchased it in a large lot with the intention of grading and flipping. Instead of passing the card on without disclosing he took the financial hit and sold it to me for a song.

Display came out great in my opinion and it still on display in my card room.
Drew

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by 36GoudeyMan

...I frankly enjoy what I have...

Ultimately, that's the most important thing. Collecting (cards, comics, etc.) can be quite fun when it's not a competition.

[ASF123]

I would guess the number of completely unaltered 52 Mantles is small and shrinking in size all the time.

Just like the cards themselves!

[perezfan]

It's not my cup of tea...

But for those of you who like 'em trimmed and altered, there's a slew of Cracker Jacks in the current Heritage auction to wet your whistle.

Only a week to go, and no signs of warning, disclosure, addendum or withdrawal on the part of Heritage. Here's a preview...

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1460488