T206 Advice?? Update

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by DJR

I prefer high grade (and low grade) cards that remain original and intact, free of chemicals / solvents, cards that once had indents, tape, ink, etc. Call me old fashioned, I guess. I also do not appreciate the pressers / trimmers, emery boards, and other nefarious activities.

Unfortunately (for some), Dick Towle's techniques do not leave any trace of their usage. PSA and SGC will freely grade these cards. I had a beautiful SGC 80 once that was Towle-job, so to speak. The card had previously been in a scrap book.

If you collect high grade pre-war cards, you should fully expect that many of them used to be in scrap books and were soaked off by water or via other non-traceable means. Why do you think the corners are so sharp and the borders so white?!

I think this is one of the most interesting topics in card collecting -- rife with controversy and opinions all over the place.

[Doug]

I wouldn't have an issue buying a soaked card. I'd say there's more of an alteration to the card by having paper or glue residue on it. I think it would be like saying an otherwise all original classic car is restored because you took it to the car wash and washed off all of the "original" dirt that it picked up over the years. Then again, that's just my opinion as wrong as some may find it to be.

[FUBAR]

Personally, i like the way the new card looks, It has much better eye appeal and for this card, the back was important to the buyer. For free, that is a top notch thing to do!

I don't feel this is an altered card at all. Nothing has been added, and only something removed that shouldn't have been there in the first place. Nice work Dick!

[teetwoohsix]

I must admit it is an amazing job Mr.Towle did on that card, but I kinda feel the way DJR does about it. It also does make me wonder how many cards floating around out there have had this done to them?

I like to think the T206's I have collected so far haven't had something like this done to them, but the fact that PSA and SGC can't detect this kind of "work" makes me wonder. That sucks.

Clayton