Why are pencil autographs from the pre-1950s era so disrespected by collectors?

[David Atkatz]

It would certainly lighten the paper, at the very least.

You'd have to be nuts to erase the inscription! (Or the address on the front, also handwritten by Gehrig--in pencil.)

(BTW,my oldest son's name is Nick, which is why I had to have the postcard.)

[Oldtix]

Probably better to just have your name legally changed...

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

It would certainly lighten the paper, at the very least.

You'd have to be nuts to erase the inscription! (Or the address on the front, also handwritten by Gehrig--in pencil.)

(BTW,my oldest son's name is Nick, which is why I had to have the postcard.)

Agree it's far better to leave the Gehrig inscription in tact. There are circumstances, however, where I have wished I could erase parts of an insctiption or other distracting portions. Same goes for the back side of a card with pencil writing.

I've just never had the nerve to actually put eraser to paper, and was wondering if anyone has done this with any success (on an item that's been that way for 80 years or so). I've heard that the art gum erasers can work wonders, but haven't seen it first hand.

[mr2686]

I would never touch an inscription. If it bothered me that much, I would try to frame the autograph and mat out the inscription...although that's not always easy. Last year I purchased a Roberto Clemente autograph that was personalized to someone and then best wishes Roberto Clemente. The first part had been "whited out" which also touched the very top of the H is wishes. The great news is that not only did I get it for an outstanding price, the Roberto Clemente portion was untouched and, with some creative matting, should look just fine along with my other 1960 Pirates.

[perezfan]

Yes... matting it out is always better than tampering. And it sounds like yours was the perfect solution for that Clemente. Would love to see that post when it's completed.

I guess the reason I ask about these erasers is that I have seen many poor jobs of erasing, in which it simply did more harm than good.

But if there was a good execution of the erasing, we would never even know it.... right? We might all be sitting on a few pieces that were erased at some time. Just wondering if anyone here has ever successfully pulled it off (perhaps on the reverse side of a card?)

[william_9]

Ssshhhh......Don't tell the card guys I once removed a pencil notation on a 1964 Willie Mays card. I used a white retractable Clic eraser. Worked well. If you have a light hand you can take off stray marks pretty well without affecting the surface. It will remove sharpie from a glossy photo too. Avoid the gum or kneaded erasers as those have a small amount of abrasives embedded into them and they will, at best, leave small marks behind.

[T206Collector]

...an art eraser to remove pencil from T206 cards, with mixed results. Sometimes it works amazingly well, with no trace of pencil or damage to the cardboard. Sometimes you can still see where the pencil is and the card may appear a bit lighter. With the Gehrig, the "Nick" is really drawn in there deeply and darkly, so I'd probably leave it alone. But it is extremely tempting. I'd probably pay a professional to carefully remove the name for me.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

But it is extremely tempting. I'd probably pay a professional to carefully remove the name for me.

Why?!

The card is an historical artifact. Nick Gillis wrote to Gehrig in 1937, and Gehrig responded. That is an (admittedly extremely minor) historical fact. Why do you have to pretend that Gehrig sent the card to you?