Posted By:
David VarghaI think altered (but authentic) cards should receive a grade of 1A (Poor/Fair because of alteration). Then the marketplace can determine whether the appeal of the card makes it a "high end" 1A or a "low end" 1A. There is always a market for these cards. I sold a 1949 Bowman Phil Rizzuto card that would have been an 8 oc or straight 6 if some genius hadn't tried to power erase the right border to make it "centered". It was still "worth" $49 to the winning bidder on eBay. Encapsulation doesn't guarantee that the card won't be cracked out and sold to the unsuspecting, but I do believe it lowers the odds of such an occurence.
One small clarification on Scott's post -- "MK" (mark) is the designation for a card with writing on it. "MC" is for "Miscut" (0/100 centering side to side or top to bottom). I do agree that MK is a bogus designation, however.
DavidVargha@hotmail.com