A No-Stainer

[JollyElm]

Sorry, just a bit of venting here...

I bought this great 1965 Topps Killer card, because the ST qualifier meant I could grab him at a really great price, so I readily jumped. The assumption being when tilted in the sunlight, the usual see-through wax or gum stains would be present, but...and it's a huge BUT...the card arrived today and there is nothing, nada, zilch. This card is spotless and I don't understand...



The white spot seemingly appearing above the 'W' in "KILLEBREW," isn't actually there (just a photographic blip)...




Here are some unretouched, straightforward 'sunlight' shots to show that there are no anomalies appearing on the front. The gloss is uniform across the board, meaning there is no 'stain' atop it...




...and on back, there is nothing (the fingerprints are on the slab)...



So I wonder, did PSA just mess up the label, someone mistakenly adding an ST to the printout? Here's a little something else to add. I checked the auction prices realized site, and they have 289 sales listed, and not a single one of those cards had an ST qualifier, not one. The implication is card #400 didn't sit below the gum or at the spot where the wax would affect it. I even contacted the seller and he had no idea why the card had a qualifier. Does anyone see something I'm missing????

[GasHouseGang]

Could it be this? Looks like wax maybe.

[JollyElm]

That's actually just a function of the picture tilting or something topographical with regards to the gloss, I imagine, as there isn't actually anything 'extra' in that area (I'm looking at it right now). In hand, it looks like the other 'sunlight' picture with no anomalies - a flat, smooth surface - and no wax or gum residue.

Edited to add: if you look above and to the right of the area in question, you'll see how the dark area of his left sleeve patch is of a similar makeup, as is the shadow on his forehead and other areas. It's just the way the darker ink is reflecting, unfortunately.

[GasHouseGang]

Then I give up.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Then I give up.

Welcome to the club!!!!!!!!!

[todeen]

Crack the slab and look without the plastic slab? Get it reappraised? Is the difference in price great enough for this to be feasible?

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[Tom S.]

I'll take a stab at it...

How about these two areas on the back? The larger area is probably just shadowing, but what about the smaller area on the edge next to the bill of the cap on the cartoon?

[OldOriole]

Tom,

I think you nailed it.

[swarmee]

It's not visible on the first picture of the back. I think it's just the reflection of the person who took the shot.

[JollyElm]

Here's a hi-def scan of the back...



It looks to be just the regular coloring.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by todeen

Crack the slab and look without the plastic slab? Get it reappraised? Is the difference in price great enough for this to be feasible?

There is definitely a decent price differential, but I'm not looking to sell the card (not that it would be a great windfall or anything), so it shall remain entombed. A couple of years ago I bought a PSA 7 ST 1968 Mantle, where the stain was a little gum residue near his face, so I cracked it out and wiped away the gunk in time for Bobby's group sub. It came back a straight 7, so that one was well worth it in terms of amping up the value. Here's a before and after...

1968mantle280psa7beforeandafter.jpg