1949 Bowman Set with Tape - Opinions Please

[gonefishin]

For several years I have had a partial 49 Bowman set, about 180 of the 252, and would like opinions on the set. Here's the problem, all the cards have tape across the front where I assume at one time had been taped in an album, etc. This is the hardest tape I have ever encountered on a card. A couple of years ago I tried every trick known to man to remove the tape, soaking, peeling, heating, etc. After ruining 5 or 6 of the cards I gave up. The cards are in decent shape (except for the tape) and it is only contained on the front. What would you do - leave them alone and enjoy? - try again to remove the tape? complete the set with cards not taped?

I appreciate your thoughts and recommendations. Pictures attached

[jingram058]

I have a baseball/pro football scrapbook that covers the years 1968/69 in both sports. Whoever put it together used the worst cellophane tape ever. It turned yellow, and stained the scrapbook pages (notebook paper; spiral notebook. It was my daughter who suggested putting it up in the attic. After 2 months in that environment, all that awful tape came loose all by itself. I then was able to take all the newspaper articles covering Mantle's retirement in 69, 68 World Series, Super Bowl III, many color magazine photos, etc., and move it all to an archival-quality modern scrapbook that looks awesome. Try putting those cards in a hot, dry environment, like an attic, and see if that tape comes off on it's own.

[swarmee]

Personally, I would leave them alone. If you don't like them, you can probably find a buyer or OBC member who would appreciate them.

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by jingram058

I have a baseball/pro football scrapbook that covers the years 1968/69 in both sports. Whoever put it together used the worst cellophane tape ever. It turned yellow, and stained the scrapbook pages (notebook paper; spiral notebook. It was my daughter who suggested putting it up in the attic. After 2 months in that environment, all that awful tape came loose all by itself. I then was able to take all the newspaper articles covering Mantle's retirement in 69, 68 World Series, Super Bowl III, many color magazine photos, etc., and move it all to an archival-quality modern scrapbook that looks awesome. Try putting those cards in a hot, dry environment, like an attic, and see if that tape comes off on it's own.

Thanks James, I may give that a try.

I'm kind of use to the tape by now, so I may just leave them alone.