What card flaws are acceptable for your PC?

[Vintagevault13]

I am curious to see what flaws you can live with in order to get the cards you need (especially the high end cards). Personally, I stay away from cards with paper loss, tears, pin holes, or writing. I can live with a crease or two as long as it doesn't detract too much from the look of the card. Also, rounded corners don't really bother me.

Anxious to read your responses.

[Bestdj777]

I am okay with tears, creases, stains, writing, trimming, and paper loss. The reason I started collecting is because of my mom's stories from her childhood. I like the cards I could picture her owning.

The only thing I won't get is a card with damage to the player's face. I feel like its a bit disrespectful to the player to mess with his face, so I just am not interested in having these.

[Jim65]

My number one thing to avoid is intentional damage, writing, trimming, etc. but certain cards I will get in any condition due to rarity or higher grades being way to expensive.

[KCRfan1]

I stay away from intentional damage, a light crease I can live with. I am ok with an o/c card if the eye appeal is nice. My pet peave is sharp corners on newer issues ( 52 Topps to more recent ). Rounded corners on those cards I never consider.

[CW]

I tend to avoid cards that are severely off-centered or have bad creasing that runs through the face of the player. For some special cards, though, I could live with such flaws (eg. a 51 Bowman Mantle). Writing on the back wouldn't bother me at all, and rounded corners add character.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by CW

I tend to avoid cards that are severely off-centered or have bad creasing that runs through the face of the player. For some special cards, though, I could live with such flaws (eg. a 51 Bowman Mantle). Writing on the back wouldn't bother me at all, and rounded corners add character.

Exactly...70/30 centering is as 'bad' as I'll go...really bothers my eye when cards are so OC....but creasing, rounded corners don't bother me at all.

Writing is a no-no...as is paper loss.

[brewing]

As a new owner of a 53 Bowman Mantle with paper loss on the back, there are not many flaws that would discourage me.

The worst flaw to me, is the hole punch.

[Samsdaddy]

I do not mind rough cuts and off centering up to 80 - 20. I do not even mind miscuts and I can deal with a hairline crease and a fuzzy corner or two.

All my cards are in their "natural" or "raw" state and that is how I prefer them.

[Prof_Plum]

The front of the card, or player's picture, is more important to me than the back. So I can live with more flaws (e.g. paper loss, writing, surface crease) on the back than on the front where my tolerance is much lower. Centering is more important than rounded corners. And very slight trimming, where the standard card's size has not been obviously altered is okay.

[steve B]

For me it depends on the card and the price.

For a tough or expensive card at a great price? nearly any flaw or group of flaws is just fine.

For a really common card? Almost none unless it's really cheap. I don't check big boxes of commons all that closely, except to get an idea of what sets are included. And if it's a 5000 count box for under $20 I might not even spend much time on that.

Steve B

[Robextend]

I can live with soft corners and bad centering. I am not a fan of visible creasing or any kind of markings (stains, ink, etc).

But as previously posted, if the card is scarce and I need it...anything goes!

[39special]

I don't like paper loss and writing.I can live with creases,if there not real bad.

[h2oya311]

Big three turn-offs:

(1) Dislike writing on the front of a card (unless its a pre-war Postcard)...I particularly dislike pencil writing (or erasures).
(2) creases or paper loss on the face of the player
(3) 80/20 centering or worse...yuck!

Otherwise, just about anything goes. Creases, soft corners, paper loss, trimming, tears, pinholes, writing on the back, hole-punches, etc.

I've noticed that hole-punched items get significantly discounted in price vs. other flaws. I've never really understood that.

That said, the majority of my cards are scarce or expensive, so flaws are okay by me...but I'll think twice if they exhibit any of the "big 3" flaws I listed above.

[Bestdj777]

I love any card with an interesting story. Below is one of the worst, or as I like to think of it, best cards in my collection. A kid cut this out and glued it to a baseball hat. It now has some serious paper loss on the back. I picked this up when I first started collecting and really wanted a regular issue Mantle in my collection. I could easily upgrade it now but I could not justify have a duplicate in my collection and could not see myself parting with this one.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

I love any card with an interesting story. Below is one of the worst, or as I like to think of it, best cards in my collection. A kid cut this out and glued it to a baseball hat. It now has some serious paper loss on the back. I picked this up when I first started collecting and really wanted a regular issue Mantle in my collection. I could easily upgrade it now but I could not justify have a duplicate in my collection and could not see myself parting with this one.

Chris,

Your point about cards having an interesting story was great. As I have gotten back into this hobby, I have really enjoyed reconnecting with my past and remembering the joy of getting the card I needed or a card of my favorite player. I have had to guard against worrying too much about condition as that limits the cards available to me as I collect on a limited budget. I recently purchased a 1955 Aaron with a crease and rounded corners for my PC. I began thinking about the "flaws" but soon became very intrigued with the "histories" that cards have. 58 years ago some kid probably opened a pack to find the Aaron card I just purchased. The crease and soft corners are evidence that he (or many) have enjoyed looking at it through the years. Who knows how many hands this card has passed through before it came into my possession? I started this thread to see if i was alone in believing that it is okay to have cards that aren't a "9" or "10". I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the responses of fellow collectors that still find joy in getting that "special" card even if it has some flaws, or better yet, an "interesting story".

[edriskill]

If I can see the front and read the entire back, I am happy.

[Paul S]

It followed me home about 45 years ago. Needed a place to stay. I'd say it was a roadmap to the Polo Grounds except I was living in Los Angeles at the time.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by Paul S

It followed me home about 45 years ago. Needed a place to stay. I'd say it was a roadmap to the Polo Grounds except I was living in Los Angeles at the time.

Cool card. Love cards with a history.

[hcv123]

I am going to separate cards into 2 categories here, because it really matters to me:

1) Cards that are in some type of reasonably obtainable supply. Easy examples would be almost any "regular" Topps card. Acceptable flaws in this category would be anything really minor - 60-40 centering, a touched corner, etc. The cards are around, so why not own a pretty nice one.

2) Cards that are near impossible to find (think only 0-6 copies exist). If I wanted/needed it for my collection - that sucker could have been the equivalent of hit by a Mack truck and it would be acceptable. Throw condition to the wind. I always love to hear the guys who say - "I'll wait till one in better condition shows up" - I smile to myself and think yep, there's a better chance that I'll see you at your funeral before you see one in better condition "show up" - never say never, but I don't hesitate on the really rare stuff.

[ALR-bishop]

I like them. They give a card character

[Paul S]

What the hell. Going out with tomorrow's junk mail.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I like them. They give a card character

Ditto here as well.

Speaking of gum...the smell of the cards and gum when opening a pack of baseball or football cards is one of my most fond memories of youth.