Anyone with experience with 1960 Topps Tattoos please chime in

[frankhardy]

Here is more evidence to my theory. This is the Don Newcombe tattoo. Take a look at the top. The sliver that is still attached has been turned 90 degrees. If you turn it down 90 degrees, it fits right into the "v". Now, take a look at the sliver itself very closely. Does that not look like a machine buggered it up? See the "accordion" look to it?

Does anybody agree (or care)?

[scmavl]

That's exactly what it looks like to me, a catch in the machining process.

[novakjr]

Assuming this is a factory flaw, I still couldn't imagine changing the grading standards, because then you'd have to grade based on the degree of the factory damage. At best it will change the collector's perspective to understand that a lower grade is as good as it gets.. Just because a 5(just an example) is the highest grade possible, that doesn't mean that those 5's automatically should be given a 10.. This isn't a 1-10 worst to best available scale. If it were then I'd agree, you may have 10's. However, in any grading scale, each number corresponds with a specific grade. Mint is mint, and no matter where the damage occurred, these are not mint. None of 'em.

[Ease]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Assuming this is a factory flaw, I still couldn't imagine changing the grading standards, because then you'd have to grade based on the degree of the factory damage. At best it will change the collector's perspective to understand that a lower grade is as good as it gets.. Just because a 5(just an example) is the highest grade possible, that doesn't mean that those 5's automatically should be given a 10.. This isn't a 1-10 worst to best available scale. If it were then I'd agree, you may have 10's. However, in any grading scale, each number corresponds with a specific grade. Mint is mint, and no matter where the damage occurred, these are not mint. None of 'em.

+1

[sflayank]

the slit at the top comes on every 1960 tatoo..it has nothing to do with opening the pack...all you have to do is look inside the unopened packs and you will see the slit
the grade from psa is based on the amount of paper loss at the bottom of the tatoo from opening it up

[frankhardy]

So, are you saying that the slit at the top is irrelevent? Meaning you can get a high grade as long as there is no paper loss at the bottom?

[toppcat]

It looks like every penny wrapper product produced by Topps for about three decades has the tear as well. Shane contacted me a couple of days ago and after I looked at it, it became apparent Topps production methods caused this rip:

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/20...ly-ripped.html