General Forum

Neat article, very interesting.

The topic keeps "ping-ponging" back in forth in my mind. No, I don't think I'd pay to have 1 of my cards restored or would I pay "big buckos". I've mentioned many times that some of my prize cards are written on from my kid days. To have that writing removed would be erasing my chilhood memories,[ ex. '57 Mantle with my 56 stickball homers!]. I must have been very creative as a child as I did things to some cards other than "spoke flapping". lol. I learned the art of removing the 1st layer of a card or part of and added my own artwork.....way before computing days. I recently found 1 such card and restored the removed part by printing the missing part and gluing it on, looks good. I think I mentioned this in another post, I added my creativity to a '61 Fleer FB card years ago. A few years back I was adding cards to Sportlots, by just listing the numbers. Well last year, some '61 Fleers were bought, lo and behold, there was my creative card. So I wrote to the buyer and explained my dilemma, he didn't care, sent it anyway. lmao.

I do like reprints,  many years ago, I made a list of sets from the Fritsch pamphlet, and bought them, and they look really nice on my shelf. I recently bought a vintage '50s lot, the seller threw in the poor cards for free, luv them. I carefully put them in new toploaders, And that's the way you will view them.

My take, ~Bob~

Not at all a fan of the "touch-up" work done. I'd never consider buying a card that was done like that. I'd much rather have the original damaged card. I certainly hope that doesn't become a trend that collectors have to watch out for in the future.

The oldest card in my personal collection (a 1910 T206 - thanks to member T206) is missing an entire corner on the top left and I want it to stay that way. I'd never consider modifying the card to make it more presentable. It's staying in the condition that I recieved it and it's not even of a person I know or a team that I collect. I wouldn't alter ANY of my vintage cards to make them "look" better!

Although it's probably hypocritical considering I'd be doing automotive restoration if my health hadn't been so bad, a restored card is, in my opinion, no different from a damaged card, and possibly worse because it could be deceptive in the future. 

If I just wanted to look at the card as it originally looked, I could just right click and save the .jpg of all of them. Where's the fun in that?

Yeah, need to clear this up.

1. My creative card work is for me and me only.....not to sell or deceive anybody. It really shouldn't bother anybody what I do in my collection, just to say you wouldn't. I have really beatup cards, and restores, really doesn't bother me what others think. Although I probably could restore a card, and you couldn't tell, BUT I WOULD NOT !

2. The '61 Fleer FB card was a "fluke" occurence, I didn't purposely try to pawn it off as a vintage card. I just thought the story would be interesting.

Have no fear, I'm not restoring ANY CARD to sell or DECEIVE on TCDB or anywhere.

~BOB~

I'm just giving my opinion in general Bob, not attacking you. 

Sorry Billy, I understand, just didn't want the members to get the wrong impression. I was just passing on a personal story relating to the article. All's good. ~BOB~

There used to be a guy on the Southside of Chicago that advertized himself as The Card Doctor.  I met him in a card shop on 95th and Kedzie about 25 years ago.  He claimed he could take any damaged card and restore it to perfection and no one could tell.  I saw a few of his cards and I couldn't tell.  I have no problem with having cards altared for my personal collection but i would never sell them without letting the buyer know.  That's just unethical in my mind.  

Totally agree !!!

The guys who trimmed the famous T206 Wagner, and sold as original, went to prison for it.

I totally get that it is your card(s) do what you will. May I suggest that none of us will live forever and a card restored today with all good intentions will be tomorrow's rip off. If we truly care about the future of our hobby we should not restore cards or trade in them. It's not healthy for the future of our legitimate cards and their values.