1955 Roberto Clemente PSA 7 Tampered?

[Forrester]

I just recently bought a PSA 7 clemente rookie and i got in the mail Friday. It looks good, and I probably am just being paranoid, but I was wondering what is yall's thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[begsu1013]

case looks good. don't see any signs of frosting. I see a few of those spider cracks on a few of my cards that I've gotten back from psa directly.

of course i'd scan the card and hold the flip up to a light and such anyways...

and naturally you could submit it to psa for a review under the guise of a bump and get authentication, peace of mind and you'd have back up paperwork if ya ever needed to sell, which is a plus I guess.

[Forrester]

So those spiderweb cracks on the the upper corners in the exact location are normal? That was what got me worrying, but I did not see any of the normal frosting I have seen on pictures of tampered ones. I had thought about getting it regraded to try for a 7.5 since its an old label anyways, but after receiving it, it does not seem to have much of a chance (closer to 6.5 than 7.5 to me). I am also going to add some more pictures, thanks again!

[Bestdj777]

I don't see any obvious issues with the case. Most of mine have minute issues and imperfections from being mailed, crammed in a safe, looked at, etc.

[Forrester]

Thanks for input! Here is the last of the pictures. So do you all think I should still send it to PSA to get regraded? Or just re-slabbed? Or keep it as is. Your input is appreciated. And begsu1013, what to you mean by hold it up to the light? I will get some scans tonight.

[MattyC]

That case is fine. I get them back AT PSA like that. Spider wrinkles in those corners are normal. Frosting along an entire edge is what's bad.

[39special]

Looks fine to me.

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by Forrester

Thanks for input! Here is the last of the pictures. So do you all think I should still send it to PSA to get regraded?

Neither. I think you should keep it as is and just enjoy it. It is a beautiful card, no need to spend the money when the end result might not be much better as PSA slabs aren't always flawless (not a knock on them, it's just small scratches and imperfections are likely inevitable when sealing a card).

[begsu1013]

sorry for taking so long to get back...anyways, here is an example. most often times and the most recent scam is that they are cracking in from the top and just inserting a fake front flip....the back is still the original flip because its harder to recreate....

so, you just hold it up to a strong light in a dark room....if you see any other writing behind the flip that says clemente (like you see chip lang, behind montana below), then bad news...but I don't think you have to worry, as we said, the spider cracks are normal. it's frosting that's bad....

this is the reasoning behind the implementation of the new hologram on the front...that and to rake in more money from everyone sending their cards in to get it.

if it's a card you plan on handing down, then I wouldn't send it in. if it's a card you plan on holding and reselling at some point or ya just cant sleep, I would send it in, get the new holder/hologram and keep the back up paperwork...remove all future doubts.

[pclpads]

As noted, that's an old slab - that looks un-tampered - from when PSA was more tolerant of even minor card imperfections. The T-B centering both sides would likely keep it from being bumped. The corners don't appear from the scans to be pointy as you would expect in a 7, if graded with today's tighter standards. That said, it is still a very nice pick up. Lotta folks would kill for that very card.

[Zach Wheat]

Your holder looks fine. I don't see anything I would be concerned with.....re: frosting. Most are concerned when there is major frosting along most of the edges of a card including 1 or more corners. I don't see any major frosting on your card.

And I would not upgrade.....looks like a nice "7"...nice card.

Z

[Forrester]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Topps-R...-/181766271106

[Forrester]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Topps-R...-/181766271106

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by Forrester

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Topps-R...-/181766271106

DUDE!! You should of consigned it to a major AH!!!
You gonna pay those Ebay Fees, Why??
Noticed you did a .99 auction, and got plenty of bids and up to 3k.
I sure hope you get near those 6k prices, as i noticed one of your links was Pwcc as a comparable.
Again, in my opinion i would of consigned it to a AH (0 commission) or had it sold at the Nationals for a bigger profit (if couldnt go, pretty sure someone like Sean could of bought it or sold it there) Heck Heritage had some spots open for their High-end auction.

[jsconscum]

This thread

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by MattyC

That case is fine. I get them back AT PSA like that. Spider wrinkles in those corners are normal. Frosting along an entire edge is what's bad.

+1 there. Looks like a great card-congrats!

Best to all,

Larry

[pokerplyr80]

Doesn't a major auction house charge a much higher fee than Ebay? A 20% buyer premium is still a fee and lowers what a buyer is willing to spend on the card. I'm pretty sure Ebay and paypal are taking less than 10% of this one.

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Doesn't a major auction house charge a much higher fee than Ebay? A 20% buyer premium is still a fee and lowers what a buyer is willing to spend on the card. I'm pretty sure Ebay and paypal are taking less than 10% of this one.

Kidding right? People dont care about the BP, if the card is 'centered' and has the eye appeal, they WILL pay the premium for it.
The recent REA example PSA4 sold for PSA6 money..thats right 1700.00 for a psa4.
Plus, wouldnt a AH have more of a client list of potential high bidders and that are not suspect to shill bidding and NP and having to relist. And dont forget the worries of shipping and receiving, and still protecting it with insurance, in hopes it arrives and doesnt get damaged and or if the buyer doesnt try and do a scam move. The AH route is in sense is a less headache approach. Heck, taking it to the Nationals, is proabably the best.

[pokerplyr80]

It's still a fee that has to be considered during bidding. A 6k bid on Ebay is just that, 6k. A 6k bid on a major auction house is actually 7,200. It does make a difference for me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Great looking card either way.