These two cards should grade the same???

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Posted By: TBob

I have a nice E98 orange Matty which now resides in a PRO holder because SGC and GAI wouldn't grade it because a very tiny (and I do mean tiny) fleck of color came off in the upper right area near the corner and it was neatly glued on by me using a tweezer and without knowledge that it would become ungradeable and also knowing that it was a card I would not sell down the road. I had it slabbed simply because I didn't want to take a chance on further "flecking" so the holder and grade are irrelevant. Likewise I have a very nice gold E94 Jennings which is EX+ except for a tiny paper loss which was replaced with glue and it is likewise in a PRO holder for the same reason.
Bottom line is the cards are considered "doctored" or "altered" because of the tiny replacement or repair, call it what you want, while I see badly trimmed vintage cards sail through the grading services getting 7's and 8's and cards which look like they passed through someone's alimentary canal getting 1.5s or 2s.
I hope all collectors of caramel cards realize that they are often time bombs waiting to explode. I have NEVER had a tobacco card "detonate" on me but I have had my fair share of E94s and E98s purchased from reputable dealers "explode" because of their fragile condition/consistency. For that reason alone I have all my E94s graded and slabbed by SGC and GAI (most of them). Damage prevention.