Today is question day:
At what
point is a card to “damaged” for you to still consider adding it to your
collection?
For me it
depends on whether it is a modern card or a vintage card. For this question I
consider anything from the junk wax era on as modern and 1970s and older as
vintage.
For
modern age cards I am ok with the card being a bit off center and I am also
ok with a soft corner or two, maybe a couple of edge chips or a scratch or two
but that is my extent. As odd as it is, even though I am picky about damage I
totally dig printing errors, cards missing foil and miscut cards like diamond
cuts, not off center.
For
vintage cards, I am ok with off center as well as some soft
corners and chipped edge but unlike modern cards I am ok with paper loss on the
back and creases. Basically, the older the card the more I am willing to accept
damage-wise. One of the biggest stopping points for me is a skinned card where
the entire back is gone.
I think I view damaged cards in a similar manner. I am more willing to accept older cards with some 'character' to them, but when it comes to modern stuff I want them to be free of most defects. I am a little more flexible if it's something that is hard to find, as a slightly damaged 1/1 or #/5 card might be the only example I'll ever see.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on most of this, except I really dislike scratches on my modern era cards.
ReplyDeleteTopps Chrome must drive you crazy. It is so odd that as collectors we have gotten to the point where Chrome scratches and Finest curves are acceptable.
DeleteAnd let's not forget card bricks. Those are unfortunate.
DeleteI'd rather have a damaged card than no card at all. I have a couple I was given missing large chunks that I don't count. They live in my boxes of damaged duplicates that I rejected from my trade list although not technically duplicates.
ReplyDeleteI have a number of vintage cards that are pretty rough that I am happy to have in my collection but I think if I had modern cards in the same condition I would toss them in to the recycling bin.
DeleteAs long as it's not water-damaged I'm pretty OK with it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, water damage is almost an automatic "No" when it comes to selecting cards.
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