Stunning quote on altered cards

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I like that one MUCH better than the PSA 7.

I like them both.

[MattyC]

I see an increasing amount of collectors out there 40s to 20s who are okay with a card having been improved. They just want it to look great and be in the slab. Plastic surgery, so to speak.

That said, reading this thread reminds me though why I will always hold onto my 52 Topps Mantle— because I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the lovely gentleman who pulled it from the pack in the summer of '52, and who later had it graded.

Just one collector's opinion, for me to be able to trace a card's origin like that from pack to my hand adds value that cannot be quantified (though buddies have certainly tried to quantify it and buy it from me, LOL). I think very few graded old cards have a lineage that a collector can look at and prove the card was never improved.

[Exhibitman]

Look, debating whether a trim is an alteration (it is) or damage (it is) is pointless, as is assuming none of our cards are altered because we are all such studs at recognizing alterations. We aren't. I also don't think there is more of a tolerance of alterations today than 30 years ago. Frankly there is more scrutiny of card grades now than ever before because of the money. My first 1952 Bowman Mantle cost me $3.25; if someone did some work on that, no biggie, I can shrug it off. My current card cost me a ton more. If that one was worked on I'd be pissed because I can't just shrug off that level of loss.

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I see an increasing amount of collectors out there 40s to 20s who are okay with a card having been improved. They just want it to look great and be in the slab.

But why will a person pay hundreds of thousands for a PSA 10 price on something like the '86 Michael Jordan, when a NM-MT+ looking PSA AUTH or PSA AUTH ALTERED can be bought for under $5,000?
Saying the buyers don't care is BS. They may be in on the scam, but they don't just want the card in the holder, they want the fake grade on the label more than the card.

BTW, I noticed that PSA is now hiding the Cert number in their Auction Prices Realized tool. Watch the page loading video I just shot and notice that the Cert column is there while the page is loaded, but disappears when the page is fully rendered. Why get rid of that?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zVEr9UCFw9XLUYqp7

[SD]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I see an increasing amount of collectors out there 40s to 20s who are okay with a card having been improved. They just want it to look great and be in the slab. Plastic surgery, so to speak.



That said, reading this thread reminds me though why I will always hold onto my 52 Topps Mantle— because I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the lovely gentleman who pulled it from the pack in the summer of '52, and who later had it graded.



Just one collector's opinion, for me to be able to trace a card's origin like that from pack to my hand adds value that cannot be quantified (though buddies have certainly tried to quantify it and buy it from me, LOL). I think very few graded old cards have a lineage that a collector can look at and prove the card was never improved.

About 10 years ago I was able to get 30 33 goudeys from a very old gentleman and his family. He claimed he unpacked every one of them and knew which cards where packed together.

Through mostly commons, they hold a higher value to me because of the origin. Included was these 2 beauties.

DSC07151.jpgnewjpg01-29-21 03-52-38.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U1 using Tapatalk

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Just one collector's opinion, for me to be able to trace a card's origin like that from pack to my hand adds value that cannot be quantified (though buddies have certainly tried to quantify it and buy it from me, LOL). I think very few graded old cards have a lineage that a collector can look at and prove the card was never improved.

Many ebay sellers provide a lineage for the cards they're selling - "given to me by my grandpa," "left to me by my grandpa," "found in my grandpa's attic after he passed away," etc. Not all provided lineages have the same weight.

[MattyC]

Sup Mike! Trust all is good with u. So true forgot about that classic ebay description— they love to use it on reprints especially lol!