OT: 1954 Topps uncut sheet

[Scott L.]

I apologize if this is a dumb question but how can one tell if a card is sheet cut versus cut at what would be the factory in this case? Especially if you got a professional to do it? I've always wondered about this.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Scott, people who trim cards for a living could probably speak to that.

[calvindog]

Aww, now you're just hating on the hobby again. Can't you give us a positive thread to lead us into National week, Pete?

[Orioles1954]

I had the opportunity to view and write that uncut sheet, it is truly a sight to behold. Was in that DC area collectors hands for the better part of forty years.

[GoldenAge50s]

Very tempting for someone to cut & get a perfect Ben Wade, (top left corner) one of the very toughest cards to find in the whole set in high grade.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Aww, now you're just hating on the hobby again. Can't you give us a positive thread to lead us into National week, Pete?

Jeff I was looking for some of yours to emulate, but came up empty.

[botn]

Gosh I wonder who is gonna win the sheet and consign the cards to an auction house near the Midwest?

[calvindog]

Somewhere a small man readies a very sharp pair of scissors...waiting...wanting....

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Jeff I was looking for some of yours to emulate, but came up empty.

Just admit it: you sure hate cards.

[toppcat]

That may be the same sheet that was pictured in the 3rd Sport Americana/Beckett Price Guide in 1981. Its partner is the one I am trying to find a scan of though. The currently offered sheet sports numbers 126-150 and 176-250. The other half sheet could show 51-125 and 151-175 but it's not been sighted to my knowledge in whole or in part. How Topps distributed the last 200 cards in 1954 is something I would like to find more about.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Just admit it: you sure hate cards.

I love cards, it's card doctors I can't stand.

[bbcard1]

My understanding is that Topps cards, which are "guillotine cut" have a very slight slant to the cut front to back..hand cutting or even professional cutting almost always results in an up and down cut...it would likely be identifiable under close magnification and scrutiny. I would say, however, very likely the deciding factor would be who sent it to the grading company.

That said, sheets are generally very cumbersome to collect and display.

[barrysloate]

Greg- if the winning bidder decides to cut up the sheet and submit the cards for grading, and the graders somehow remember or sense these were the cards from that sheet that just sold, are they still going to give them high numerical grades? Because it seems to me these cards will be recognizable.

[T205]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

My understanding is that Topps cards, which are "guillotine cut" have a very slight slant to the cut front to back..hand cutting or even professional cutting almost always results in an up and down cut...it would likely be identifiable under close magnification and scrutiny. I would say, however, very likely the deciding factor would be who sent it to the grading company.
That said, sheets are generally very cumbersome to collect and display.

I would have to agree 100% with this statement because when it is all said and done, money is what makes the world go around. If a well known group or seller submits these cards to the grading companies probably some cards will "slip through" and end up in slabs with grades that are 9 and 10s. I am not saying that only the star cards will make it through. A common card in a graded 9 or 10 slab would fetch a pretty penny especially with those that compete in the set registries. I hope that this sheet ends up being framed and put on display rather than a piece of history being cut up and sold. Kinda reminds you of Upper Deck huh?

[Jewish-collector]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Scott, people who trim cards for a living could probably speak to that.

Good one, Peter !!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Alan, I am no expert but I believe the factory cuts are distinctive enough so that a grading service should be able to distinguish factory cut from sheet cut. That said, I think there is a strong possibility this sheet will be purchased by prominent card doctors and the cut cards will find their way into slabs. Draw your own conclusions as to how this might happen. I sure hope I am wrong, but given that everything in the hobby is secret there is no way to know.

[HRBAKER]

It would be interesting to know how many (what %) of the 9/10 collecting crowd would really care whether their 9/10 was a result of a sheet cut or not.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

It would be interesting to know how many (what %) of the 9/10 collecting crowd would really care whether their 9/10 was a result of a sheet cut or not.

Or a lilttle microtrim for that matter.

[Matthew H]

If I were collecting 9's 10's, I'd examine every card I own and learn as much about factory cuts that I could.

People trim cards for a living? Is it really that easy to get PSA/SGC to put a number grade on a trimmed card? This sheet is believed to be unique, if it disappears for good we'll know what happened. I personally would like that sheet hanging on my wall. I really can't imagine why someone would cut it.