Make it a Variation

[marcdelpercio]

To me, a variation is any change in the text or artwork DESIGN of a card. This would not include such things as stray print marks, variances in color shading due to low or missing ink, or other variances due simply to inconsistencies in the printing process. Rather, this would include cards that have a different actual design, meaning a variation in text (missing/different letters, punctuation, stats, etc), or artwork (different team, insignia on uniform, border design, etc).

I believe that the advertising back is irrelevant as this was meant to be used interchangeably among all copies of the card. So, in my opinion, even cards that appear with only one ad back (T206 Demmitt & O'Hara St. Louis, T205 Mathewson "37-1" & Doc White "no quotes") should still be considered variations as the DESIGN of the card is different.

[Bridwell]

Marc, I agree 100% with your definition.

Let's separate 'design variations' from 'printing errors'. To me, those are 2 different types of collectibles.

Originally Posted by marcdelpercio

To me, a variation is any change in the text or artwork DESIGN of a card. This would not include such things as stray print marks, variances in color shading due to low or missing ink, or other variances due simply to inconsistencies in the printing process. Rather, this would include cards that have a different actual design, meaning a variation in text (missing/different letters, punctuation, stats, etc), or artwork (different team, insignia on uniform, border design, etc).

I believe that the advertising back is irrelevant as this was meant to be used interchangeably among all copies of the card. So, in my opinion, even cards that appear with only one ad back (T206 Demmitt & O'Hara St. Louis, T205 Mathewson "37-1" & Doc White "no quotes") should still be considered variations as the DESIGN of the card is different.

I will +1 that

[steve B]

I also collect stamps, and the way they handle it there's a few different levels of collecting. First is the basic stamp, then the cataloged differences of perforations or watermarks, then major cataloged varieties like plate cracks and double transfers. And finally going way beyond the catalog to highly specialise in one series or even one stamp. Each way of collecting is equally ok.


For me it's a matter of there being a difference on the plate. That can be accidental or deliberate. - Magie - deliberate, Nodgrass - accidental.

Add to that a question of wether an accidental difference happened during the making of the plate or sometime after. Nodgrass was probably done while makingthe plate. I have a few cards with marks from plate scratches which are obviously both accidental and later.

Stuff that happens during printing and processing the sheets into cards(or during packaging) I consider to be printing errors and not variations.


I collect all the above, mostly because I find them interesting.

But I wouldn't expect most people to collect them that way or to recognize the small imperfections as variations.