What do you think of Hand Cut cards

[joshuanip]

Looking at the various things to collect, there seems be be an infinite list (then mrestraint after looking at my available funds).

Strip or hand cut cards seems to be great additions. Especially since they are earlier and affordable representations of Ruth. But I can’t seem to get around to collect hand cut cards because I do t know when they were cut. Then again, does it matter? I truly don’t know.

Curious what the board thinks of hand cut cards and if my reservations are just uneducated predispositions against strip cards. Thanks.

[ALR-bishop]

[EvilKing00]

i have quite a few hand cut ruth strip cards. love them

[TUM301]

another collector that doesn`t mind strip or hand cut cards. Bye the way Al, that`s an awesome Ruth/Fleer back you have there sir, enjoy that rarity.

[DeanH3]

I'm totally fine with hand cut cards. I do prefer they are cut symmetrically and not way off. And "when" they were cut doesn't concern me as we know up front they were hand cut at some point. There are some great hand cut cards to be had. Good luck.

[Fred]

Hand cut cards should only be given an "Auth" grade. Let eye appeal of the buyer determine the price. Same with cards that have a coupon removed (Zeenuts, for example). Those should be given an AUTH label if the coupon has been removed.

Someone can still cut the edges of a hand cut card tomorrow so that the card has razor sharp corners. Also, you could pop a hand cut card with huge borders from a slab, recut the card and make it have greater eye appeal and a higher grade.

TPG companies have no clue....

[iowadoc77]

Probably one of the best ways to collect vintage on a limited budget and still be able to get the big names.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Fred

Hand cut cards should only be given an "Auth" grade. Let eye appeal of the buyer determine the price. Same with cards that have a coupon removed (Zeenuts, for example). Those should be given an AUTH label if the coupon has been removed.

Someone can still cut the edges of a hand cut card tomorrow so that the card has razor sharp corners. Also, you could pop a hand cut card with huge borders from a slab, recut the card and make it have greater eye appeal and a higher grade.

TPG companies have no clue....

+1

[npa589]

Originally Posted by fred

hand cut cards should only be given an "auth" grade. Let eye appeal of the buyer determine the price. Same with cards that have a coupon removed (zeenuts, for example). Those should be given an auth label if the coupon has been removed.

Someone can still cut the edges of a hand cut card tomorrow so that the card has razor sharp corners. Also, you could pop a hand cut card with huge borders from a slab, recut the card and make it have greater eye appeal and a higher grade.

Tpg companies have no clue....

+7000

[CobbSpikedMe]

I like strips since many of them are from the 20's and there isn't as much in the way of tobacco or candy cards from those years. I like the way they came in strips and were meant to be cut apart. But some kids butchered them when they separated them.

Of course some of them could be cut years later to clean them up and give them better grades. Does that bother you though? Considering they were meant to be cut anyway, does it matter if they were cut 90 years ago or last year? Are cards pulled from vintage packs today not as good as cards pulled from packs in the 50's?

[joshuanip]

Good points. When the cutting occurs does make a difference for me. If it was cut by kids around the time it was distributed, it's part of the history of the card. That is a big difference from having someone in modern time cut the card again to get a higher TPG score. Problem is you don't know unless its razor sharp, and then you definitely know (maybe). Such as the gem mint one circulating on eBay every now and then.

I guess it makes sense to have them all graded as authentic rather than a grade. And if you are comfortable with that, then there are beautiful examples at great prices. The one that made me even go into this meaningless rant was the W516 ruth that shows him as a yanks pitcher. Im sure one day I'll pick up an authentic grade one.