SGC & Hand Cut

[TATSR]

Hello all,
Just wondering...Today I received a group of 1954-55 Baltimore Zipcards from SGC. They received numerical grades, but they have also been designated as "Hand Cut" on the label. For what it's worth, the Standard Catalog provides approximate measurements due to their "hand-cut nature", but they're pretty rare so I'm not sure if they deserve a definitive "hand cut" on the label. Also, I just looked quickly through ebay at other hand cut cards and none of them have that designation on the label. Not sure if I like that or not. When it comes time to sell, will people think "Wow, those must be even more hand cut than normal hand cut cards!" SGC had only graded 6 of these before my 25, so I really don't know if they had done this to the other zipcards.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Tom

[swarmee]

I wouldn't be concerned. The grade is what matters. Nice cards.

[Leon]

Major applause for sgc....If they are hand cut they should be labeled that way

[brian1961]

TATSR, Howdy. While I know nothing about this card issue, let me join the others in easing your worry. One of the good things that professional grading companies do is to provide the designation of "HAND CUT" to their label as a point of historical reference to the manner in which the cards were offered to the public.

For example, the 1960-1963 Post Cereal cards were printed on the backside of their breakfast cereal boxes. You had to cut the cards off the box to get the individual cards. The noteworthy exception was 1961, whereby the customer could send a box top and change for a team set (which was usually not the entire team printed by Post, and some cards were only included in the send away offer, while a few were only to be found on the cereal boxes. This sounds confusing, and perhaps a poor example). Nevertheless, the key to my point was that the consumer had to hand cut the cards off the product package, whereas all gum cards and many regional issues were factory cut and ready to add to your collection.

The merits of hand cut cards are considerably enhanced when the professional grading firm assigns it a grade as high as the example you provided us. In other words, the "HAND CUT" designation makes the card all the more remarkable and valuable when it receives such a high grade. Really, anything Near Mint or better with a hand cut card is pure wow.

Nice going, collecting bro!

Please favor us with any details of the set, if you know.

Take care. ---Brian Powell

[nolemmings]

The problem with that, Brian, is that SGC does not indicate "hand-cut" on Post cereal cards or Bazookas either (or Hostess). I do not know if they are changing their policy or because this issue is so scarce they felt a need for the designation. Frankly I'm not convinced they are hand-cut from the scans I have seen of these and others, although I've never held one in hand.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

The problem with that, Brian, is that SGC does not indicate "hand-cut" on Post cereal cards or Bazookas either (or Hostess). I do not know if they are changing their policy or because this issue is so scarce they felt a need for the designation. Frankly I'm not convinced they are hand-cut from the scans I have seen of these and others, although I've never held one in hand.

Todd, I was not aware of SGC's policy. You are absolutely right, and I'm surprised I never noticed this omission. I have a couple SGC-graded Post Cereals, one graded in the late 90's and one from about 2009, and having just come back from looking at them, there is indeed no mention of their being hand-cut. I guess my eyes were always glued to the card and their grade when viewing them. Were it not for the fact that it is so well known that Post Cereals are hand cuts, I would feel cheated a bit. Regardless, thank you for correcting me on this. Perhaps SGC is changing their policy on divulging the hand cut nature of an issue; however, I shan't re-holder my cards just for that mention.

As for the Baltimore Oriole regional that started the discussion, I obviously would have no idea one way or the other.

Thanks again, Todd. ----Brian Powell

[nolemmings]

"Were it not for the fact that it is so well known that Post Cereals are hand cuts, I would feel cheated a bit."

I agree. I also agree with Leon that all hand-cut cards should indicate that, even if it is obvious or well-known. A numeric grade can still be assigned, IMO, but then the buyer/owner knows or should know that the card may have been cut recently or at the time of issue (or anywhere in between). More information is better, I say.

[bigfish]

Tom, I agree with Leon and think Sgc got it right. A 96 is kind of a nice grade. Also, did you contact Sgc with the concerns you posted on the main forum?? I think they would have been happy to answer questions.

[TATSR]

Originally Posted by bigfish

Tom, I agree with Leon and think Sgc got it right. A 96 is kind of a nice grade. Also, did you contact Sgc with the concerns you posted on the main forum?? I think they would have been happy to answer questions.

If they were being consistent, I would agree. I would also be in favor of all hand cut cards being labeled as such. But should the "hand cut" designation be reserved for cards that were intended to be cut (like strip cards or box-based cards)? I don't think anyone knows how these were created or how they were distributed.

I didn't contact them first because I received the cards today and wanted to see if anyone had ever seen any SGC card with "hand cut" on the label.

And if this is a new policy, I wish they had started with the next submission

SGC also labels some 1952 Topps Mays and Mantle's as 'Rookie' while leaving it off other flips. I'm not sure if this is done by request or just a shift of thinking through the years, but in any case there's a lack of consistency there as well.