Trimmed cards gaining acceptance?

tjlives · #1 12-07-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybird

I kind of like them if they are obvious hack jobs done by kids or by a collector trying to fit them into an album. If they are done by doctors or people trying to make sharp corners, I avoid them like the plague.

I tend to end up with cards with pinholes (sometimes also trimmed, sometimes not) for similar reasons. Gives the card a little more character, drives the grade to PR/FR, and usually doesn't affect the aesthetic of the card too much because little Jimmy typically didn't put the pin over Christy Mathewson's face.

rainier2004 · #2 12-07-2011, 05:38 PM

Im on a tight budget with my cracker jack set...that sentence alone contradicts itself, but I buy a trimmed one it its got good appeal. They have a hair taken off them, look like the 6s that go for a lot more than I got. On the other hand I tend to not pin holes or any front paper loss or any writing period...glas we're different.

steve B · #3 12-07-2011, 07:26 PM

In my collecting I haven't focused on high grade cards. Just on having the card. I'm getting more into having really nice condition cards, but it's still not the most important thing.
I have a few trimmed cards, usually ones that look fairly nice. One I knew was trimmed, the other I'm pretty sure was trimmed. I'd bought it as raw card, and it looked pretty good, maybe a 40 or 50, and full size. But a couple edges are just too sharp. Another is a Delong in a 7 holder from one of the 4th tier grading companies. Also full size, but again, looks trimmed under a loupe.
I also have a few really nice ones I know aren't trimmed, and some real beaters.
I find I enjoy the cards for what they are, and can ignore what they sometimes aren't. I wouldn't spend big money on one, but there are some really great looking trimmed cards out there. As long as it's sold as trimmed and priced accordingly I'm ok with it.

Steve B

kmac32 · #4 12-07-2011, 07:44 PM

.....

atx840 · #5 12-07-2011, 08:13 PM

When I was putting together the 649 subset one of the "rarer" cards was the whitecap Mathewson and at the time I had two options. SGC hack job for $160 (ebay) or PSA 5 for $1750 (Heritage). The previous 30/34 cards combined didn't total $1750. I went with the hack job, love the card as it was clearly not done to deceive.

z28jd · #6 12-07-2011, 08:30 PM

Way back in the day, maybe 2002, I suggested here that grading companies give altered cards a zero grade and a modifier to tell what was wrong with the card. I would say of the 20 people who responded at least 21 thought it was a stupid idea and they didn't want grading companies to grade anything trimmed/recolored/restored/whatever

Chris-Counts · #7 12-07-2011, 10:44 PM

The first card I bought off eBay 10 years ago was a trimmed 1953 Bowman Gerry Staley. I wasn't happy when my brother pointed out it was trimmed, but after a while, I not only stopped worrying about trimmed cards, but I actually started seeking them out, in part because I could acquire so many cards I couldn't normally afford on my limited budget. I'd much rather have a trimmed card than one with creases and rounded corners at the same price. For some time, I was convinced they were undervalued, but now I'm getting outbid all the time, so I suspect there's other bargain-hunting collectors like me. Some of my favorite cards are trimmed ...

freakhappy · #8 12-08-2011, 12:10 AM

I don't mind trimmed cards...to each their own. At the moment, I own one trimmed card (T206 Mathewson Dark Cap) and I don't even notice the trim job on it. The card looks to be a tad short, so to me it looks beautiful and untrimmed. Like a few people have said already, this is a card that if unaltered, I would not be able to afford. So I welcome trimmed cards if they are usually expensive unaltered.

As for the "chop jobs", they look horrible and wouldn't touch them unless they were too cheap to pass up. The gentlemen that showed us a few...the orange Mathewson looks very bad (no offense), but I can hardly look at that card!

Mike

Runscott · #9 12-08-2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z28jd

Way back in the day, maybe 2002, I suggested here that grading companies give altered cards a zero grade and a modifier to tell what was wrong with the card. I would say of the 20 people who responded at least 21 thought it was a stupid idea and they didn't want grading companies to grade anything trimmed/recolored/restored/whatever

John - that's how I remember it as well. It really sounds from the comments in this thread, that a lot of collectors no longer mind trimmed cards. They were just plain taboo.

atx840 - good example. That illustrates very well the situation we're in if we are collecting expensive cards, but on a budget. I also like all the subtle differences in the Matty white caps - mine is actually a hack job of a nice one as well, and also a 649 OP.

ullmandds · #10 12-08-2011, 06:57 AM

Personally...I really don't like trimmed cards...I have owned a few...maybe 10 or so over the years...but have slowly gotten rid of them...and the few I have left...I don't even know where they are!!!!

I agree with Jason's take...that maliciously trimmed cards are much worse than innocently trimmed cards...but sometimes you'll never know!!!!

The only thing worse than trimmed cards...in my opinion...are cards that have had color added to them...they are the worst.

It only makes sense that many people will buy/collect some cards that are trimmed...especially rarities...as the prices of unaltered cards continue into the stratosphere...collectors with less means will pursue these trimmed/altered/grade A cards as it's a more reasonable way to own such cards.

But personally...they're not for me...and they PISS ME OFF!!!!!!

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