Possibly trimmed cards - thoughts?

[JollyElm]

It's sort of a balancing act between what you paid for the cards and what the chances are that something is wrong here. First off, many here will tell you that the cards they bought in the 60's and 70's definitely showed occasional variance in sizing, so it is definitely not out of the question that those cards were born that way. But you have to decide whether or not a full 1/16 of an inch is sketchy or not. That is a significant difference. You've already stated that you have no reason to either believe the seller or not believe the seller, so you have to ask yourself a few pertinent questions:

1. Do the edges under magnification look as they should? Is there a way to take pics of your 10X magnification and post them here for some of the guys to look at?

2. How do the prices paid stack up? Did you get the cards on the cheap, or can you get the same cards/conditions for close to or at the same prices elsewhere? If it's the latter, then you may be saving yourself a lot of heartache by just returning them now and putting it all behind you. If they were low priced, but there's a possibility of them being deemed 'wrong' in the future, you have to decide whether the amount paid makes keeping them a non-issue.

3. Do you plan on getting the cards graded? If you shelled out a lot of money for them and they eventually come back as ungradeable due to sizing, you are going to scream like a banshee!!! I know what I'm talking about. In Bobby's last group sub, I had 4 cards returned unsuitable (N6: MINIMUM SIZE REQUIREMENT), three 1971's (including a Nolan Ryan!) and a 1961 Babe's 60th Homer. All were measured out beforehand and examined closely while laying atop a modern card, and they were the perfect size, yet I still got screwed...with no explanation from PSA, of course.

[JollyElm]

Do you have similar pics of the other side of the card? If it was a trim job, who's to say which side got sliced.

On a logic note, I'm not an expert, but when a card is trimmed using a paper cutter, X-Acto knife or whatever, there is a lot of force exerted downward on the card, so the very edge would sorta curve down a microscopic amount...if you know what I mean. A card coming out of the factory almost 50 years ago would have had plenty of time for that edge to re-elevate and match the rest of the card. So, if the edge sort of minutely curves downward, that is a reason for concern.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Do you have similar pics of the other side of the card? If it was a trim job, who's to say which side got sliced.

On a logic note, I'm not an expert, but when a card is trimmed using a paper cutter, X-Acto knife or whatever, there is a lot of force exerted downward on the card, so the very edge would sorta curve down a microscopic amount...if you know what I mean. A card coming out of the factory almost 50 years ago would have had plenty of time for that edge to re-elevate and match the rest of the card. So, if the edge sort of minutely curves downward, that is a reason for concern.

The card is a little off-center to the right, so I figured the left edge would be the trimmed edge rather than making it even more off-center. But maybe that's what they want me to think! Here's the other edge, for reference.

I do maybe see a tiny downward curve, but again, I don't have any experience in this sort of thing and it could just be the power of suggestion. And all the edges of the card look pretty much the same.

[JollyElm]

I've sold only a single card on ebay in the last 15 years, but that's it, as I'm a trader at heart.

Perhaps the most important point you made was how all of the edges seemingly match each other. Someone overthinking it would say, "Well maybe the card was a little large to begin with, so he cut all four sides," but that may be a leap too far. If the cards don't jump out at you as being trimmed, look fine next to their counterparts, and you got them at a great price, I think I know whether or not you're going to keep them.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Do you have similar pics of the other side of the card? If it was a trim job, who's to say which side got sliced.

On a logic note, I'm not an expert, but when a card is trimmed using a paper cutter, X-Acto knife or whatever, there is a lot of force exerted downward on the card, so the very edge would sorta curve down a microscopic amount...if you know what I mean. A card coming out of the factory almost 50 years ago would have had plenty of time for that edge to re-elevate and match the rest of the card. So, if the edge sort of minutely curves downward, that is a reason for concern.

It's actually opposite of that. Most people cut with the Exacto knife starting off the card and continuing through it. The knife in a factory paper cutter presses through with a bit of sideways motion, and leaves an edge exactly like you describe. Just a slight rounding on top. That will vary depending on how sharp the blade was, but it's almost always there.
I have cards from 1910 that still have that edge quality, despite being in P-F condition.