Should I Cut This Mickey Mantle Bazooka Panel?
 

I am not familiar with hand cut cards. Should I cut the edges off of the card to make it smoother (since its hand cut anyway) or is that not a good idea? Should I get this graded? Thank you.
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What's the upside?

To get a higher grade.

I would not cut it. If you go too short, the grading companies will usually only grade it authentic. Yours is already so close to the border line. I wouldn't risk it.

I would leave it as is and get it graded that way. I like the panels cut just like they were back then. I think yours looks great the way it is.

My 2 cents

AndyH

Thank you everyone for the advice.

Don't bother cutting it out... since some of the black border along Mick's bottom edge is missing, the card will only grade "Authentic" whether it's a single card or whole panel.

Nice that Mick is card no. 7.

I do not think that it would receive a high grade anyways so I certainly not risk it.

I agree that you should leave it as is.

If you want to enjoy the Mantle card as a single item, make a copy of the scan and crop the copy to "create" a Mantle single.

It's beautiful as it is.

Any idea what it's worth?

Don't know what it's worth, but I'd gotta believe it's more valuable as a panel, than as a single card.. I think the closer it is to it's original form, the more valuable it should be(obviously the full box would be ideal).. Now if the Mantle portion were mint and maybe there was a crease on one of the others, I could see maybe cutting it(personally still wouldn't do it though). But that's irrelevant in this case anyways. The creasing seems pretty consistent all the way around, and the single is in pretty much the same condition as the panel as a whole..

I am assuming your initial comment was asking whether you should keep it as a panel but clean up the edges? Either way, just wanted to point out that this is one of the best of the Mantle Bazooka issues to have in panel form. The 1966 and 1967 Mantles are identical. The only way to distinguish them is, I believe, is when they are in panel form. I believe yours is a 1966 (although have not seen a graded 1967 to confirm my suspicions).

As for prices, most panels I have seen were listed in excess of $1,000. I think those prices are a bit steep, and it does not appear anyone is selling at that price. The only panel I have seen that has sold was a 1964 in similar condition to yours (very presentable but trimmed slightly short and only graded authentic). It sold on eBay for $250 plus shipping, which I think was a very good price for the bidder. Cannot say for sure what yours would get though, but those are just some numbers to give you a sense of the market. It is a cool piece.

If you have the requisite skills and equipment to cut the edges straight and just outside the black lines I'd clean it up. I don''t like the looks of raggedy-edged panels or strip cards or Wheaties, and when I get them I clean them up, but I rarely slab cards anyway, so the net result is strictly for my own enjoyment. You have to keep the black lines showing; they are part of the charm of the design. I do agree with the other responses to the effect that the card is an "A" at best anyway because of the missing dashed lines on the Mantle.