SGC Determining Color Added

[mikecala98]

Does anyone have some info or experience with SGC and how they determine a card has had color added? Does the fact that the colors make no sense together weigh in their decision when assigning this qualifier? Take a look at this example below. It is the only thing I can see on the card. Thanks!

[JollyElm]

If you do a search on YouTube for videos about SGC walkthroughs of the grading process (something like that), one of them shows how each card is put into this microwave-looking X-ray/MRI/don't know what to call it machine and BOOM!!!!! all unseen issues suddenly become very much apparent. I imagine that any 'color added' areas would be exposed there.

[steve B]

That bit of blue on the corner doesn't seem factory. I would call it a stain rather than color added, which to me is more things like adding yellow to hide some chipping on the edges.
But it is color, and it did get added, so they're not wrong.

[mikecala98]

Originally Posted by steve B

That bit of blue on the corner doesn't seem factory. I would call it a stain rather than color added, which to me is more things like adding yellow to hide some chipping on the edges.
But it is color, and it did get added, so they're not wrong.

Yeah I agree on the semantics. I think I'd prefer it to say MARK and not COLOR ADDED as if adding blue to a white border makes any sense as an intentional alteration.

[jchcollins]

I love SGC, but they often get stuff like this wrong still. Agreed "mark" would be more accurate in this case.

[nolemmings]

Are you sure there was no other color added? If so, a black light should help detect it.
In my experience SGC will correctly downgrade a card for such corner staining as displayed on your card, but not to the point of calling it authentic. Granted, my focus is on pre-war, but here is a card from 1916 that shows obvious coloring that could not possibly be intended to deceive:

My example is actually pretty nice compared to about a dozen others from the Green-Joyce set that have sold over the years with much more prominent teal coloring in the corners-- all of which got numeric grades, like this:

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

If you do a search on YouTube for videos about SGC walkthroughs of the grading process (something like that), one of them shows how each card is put into this microwave-looking X-ray/MRI/don't know what to call it machine and BOOM!!!!! all unseen issues suddenly become very much apparent. I imagine that any 'color added' areas would be exposed there.

Jolly - My understanding is that machine, whatever it is - is only used with grading super expensive cards. I doubt they use it on every single thing they grade; SGC only had one of them, at least in the video I saw. That thing was very suspect. They had a '53 Topps Mantle and the surface looked fine under normal light, even twisting it around - no creases, no wrinkles. But suddenly under the machine they can see a flaw "inside" the cardboard stock? Sorry that's BS.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Jolly - My understanding is that machine, whatever it is - is only used with grading super expensive cards. I doubt they use it on every single thing they grade; SGC only had one of them, at least in the video I saw. That thing was very suspect. They had a '53 Topps Mantle and the surface looked fine under normal light, even twisting it around - no creases, no wrinkles. But suddenly under the machine they can see a flaw "inside" the cardboard stock? Sorry that's BS.

I certainly hope you're right, because my latest SGC submission of less than super expensive cards is on the way back, and I don't want them to get screwed over due to invisi-bullsh*t.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

I certainly hope you're right, because my latest SGC submission of less than super expensive cards is on the way back, and I don't want them to get screwed over due to invisi-bullsh*t.

Let me know how it goes Darren....I was thinking of sending them some more, but just can't get motivated enough to do it.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

Let me know how it goes Darren....I was thinking of sending them some more, but just can't get motivated enough to do it.

Hey Bobby!!
You'll have a (hopefully) entertaining video to watch when I get these suckers back. Stay tuned.