diamond cuts

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Posted By: mcavoy

Does anyone have an idea for how sheets of cards were cut?

Do diamond cuts appear today because the printer machine-cut each row and column by his hand direction, so the shape depended on his skill and the slippage of the sheet during cutting? This would be poor quality work, I think.

Or, do diamond cuts appear today because when the sheets were cut, they were first stacked, then one or more of the sheets would slip and slide during cutting? In this case, I think the bottom sheets probably slid somewhat, so the shape cut was unseen by the printer, and distributed (poor quality control)

Or both depending on the printers?

Why do diamond cuts appear over sized? I have few observations, but I do not recall an undersized diamond cut. If cutting the sheets produced oversized cuts, then some undersized cuts should be too. Did the printers discard the undersized cards? Why? Quality was already poor. (Edited: Nevermind on the sizing, I picture the geometry: they cut diagonally along two edges and the sheet borders had extra wide margins).

How should diamond cuts be graded?

Thanks, Mike

{Edited for clarity and to include an observation regarding the size}

[Archive]

Posted By: Robert

Mike.
good question.
I've always wondered the same thing and I think that it's both.
Diamond cuts seem to be the result of the slight shifting of a sheet during the printing process.
If the sheet shifed vertically or was not stacked directly on top of the others, I assume that's why we see some of the print from the bottom of another card on the top of one card.

But, I'll be the first to admit that I'm just guessing and going off of conversations with other collectors.
I know there are some printing "experts" who post here.
let's here it.
robert a