What's your opinion on owning altered cards?

[Brianruns10]

Hey all,

I'm a 52 topps collector. I collect raw cards, and it is my goal to one day have a Mantle card. The best I could hope for would be a card in poor or fair condition, but I still hope to obtain one with a fair amount of eye appeal. One possibility I hadn't considered though was buying an altered card. Since it would be for my personal collection and my own enjoyment, I figure I could live with this compromise, as opposed to if I were an investor.

What about the rest of you? Do any of you collect altered examples of cards you might otherwise not be able to afford?

[Republicaninmass]

While I'd not overpay for one, I dont see an issue owning a nice one. The consensus disagrees as 52 mantles altered with eye appeal are garnering some crazy prices. I cant figure it out. Maybe the buyer feels it might pass psa one day? I can only think with the supply of unaltered copies, these altered copies will fall out of favor with collectors, and priced come back to earth. I have no skin in the game

[hcv123]

From a market value perspective altered cards in general are poor investments. If you were talking just about any other 52 there wouldn't even be a "but", but you are talking about a 52 Mantle - the poster card for post war cards. If you get a nice eye appeal "A", I think you'll be okay.
For myself, I would tend to make exception for a super rare card that doesn't get offered sooner than one I couldn't currently afford.

[ullmandds]

I kinda agree with the op! I'm becoming more and more disenfranchised with my collection of high dollar slabs...and I get exponentially more enjoyment flipping through my binders. I also would love an early mantle for my binder and am warming to the idea of an altered copy.

[bnorth]

I would get the Altered card if the price was right.

The big plus is you know it is altered. I would guess the number of completely unaltered 52 Mantles is small and shrinking in size all the time. Just one card restorer admitted to working several hundred of them and that number is from a long time ago.

[conor912]

If I knew it was altered, paid accordingly, and couldn’t tell what the alteration was, I would absolutely pull the trigger.

[egri]

I have a few cards that are altered. I don't mind, as I think it makes the colors pop more (it shows up better in person), and it certainly made them cheaper to acquire. That being said, I do keep in mind that if I ever need to sell, the trimming will be reflected in the sale price.

[36GoudeyMan]

FWIW, I look at it this way: I own a few restored comics, but they are identified as such, with the nature of the restoration disclosed. I can get a slightly restored, barely touched Golden Age comic for a fraction (a medium fraction, not a tiny fraction) if I am willing to accept a comic with restoration like "staples cleaned" or "slight color touch on spine." I used to care what other collectors thought of "polluting" a pristine collection with some altered copies, but I frankly enjoy what I have and could care less what others think. If I ever sell, I would absolutely call attention to the documented alteration and let the buyer make a choice. I'm not in it to profit, so if the market for restored comics slips, I'm still OK having had them in my collection. I think altered cards may be heading that way, although slowly, and as long as there is disclosure. Good luck!!!

[ZiggerZagger]

I think it really depends on the Collector, but in particular depends on the card in question.

I've tended to avoid cards with Qualifiers and AA designations typically. It rankles my OCD...
But I ran across this E90-1 Cobb for my Cobb run last year, and for the eye appeal and 1k price, I just had no reason to say no.
I've enjoyed it, and have no plans to 'upgrade' it for a numerically graded copy, for what would cost a few times the price I'm sure.

I hope you find a '52 Mantle you'll be similarly happy with!

[tschock]

Originally Posted by 36GoudeyMan

FWIW, I look at it this way: I own a few restored comics, but they are identified as such, with the nature of the restoration disclosed. I can get a slightly restored, barely touched Golden Age comic for a fraction (a medium fraction, not a tiny fraction) if I am willing to accept a comic with restoration like "staples cleaned" or "slight color touch on spine." I used to care what other collectors thought of "polluting" a pristine collection with some altered copies, but I frankly enjoy what I have and could care less what others think. If I ever sell, I would absolutely call attention to the documented alteration and let the buyer make a choice. I'm not in it to profit, so if the market for restored comics slips, I'm still OK having had them in my collection. I think altered cards may be heading that way, although slowly, and as long as there is disclosure. Good luck!!!

Jeff,

I think for the most part 'restored' is a subset of 'altered', but I think the key is to defining the terms. I personally don't think that "staples cleaned" is 'altered', BUT it is 'restored'. Rebuilding pages is both 'altered' and 'restored', again IMO. But the key point is to define what is restored and what is altered (even if I didn't agree with the definitions).

For cards, we are currently and more closely equating the two terms. Removing pencil marks is an alteration, not restoration which would be more technically accurate. Once we better define the distinction within the hobby as a whole, 'restoration' might be more accepted. Assuming disclosure, of course. And another money making scheme for TPGs.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by 36GoudeyMan

...I frankly enjoy what I have...

Ultimately, that's the most important thing. Collecting (cards, comics, etc.) can be quite fun when it's not a competition.

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

Since it would be for my personal collection and my own enjoyment, I figure I could live with this compromise, as opposed to if I were an investor.

In my view this answers your question, and is a great statement as to why a true collector collects-personal enjoyment. So I would think given your budgetary constraints it would be a no brainer to go for the one that has the best eye appeal. And for your bonus enjoyment, take satisfaction in knowing you will end up with a nice looking card for a fraction of the price of what a comparable looking "non-altered" card would have cost, which BTW IMO more likely than not received the grade it did only after having been "worked on".

[Exhibitman]

If you collect PSA graded cards odds are you already have a few.

I don't care as long as the card fits my collection and is the right price. I will usually just bust out the "A" cards and put them in my albums. Hell, I picked up this 1965 Golazo Pele recently and it is as altered as it gets: