Options
exclusive private showing
dude
Posts: 1,454 ✭✭
To Joe Orlando and interested law enforcement agencies,
Below is a brief explanation regarding these four raw (or ungraded) cards shown:
The first two scans of raws cards, both '63 Topps Jim Kings, were downloaded from eBay by seller "excuzme" shortly after
the perp won the cards in the early part of 2007. For a long list of reasons, we are certain these raw cards are the same as the ones graded.
One compelling example is that on the PSA 9 specimen, there is a diagonal surface scratch on King's left elbow and
also to the right of the yellow circle. Under close scrutiny these can be seen on the raw card scan. The fisheyes and print snow also match.
The second pair, the '67 Ellis and '61 Cheney were scanned front and back with a high resolution scanner
generating a file size of 4-6 megabytes each. These two cards were owned by collectors in this investigative team,
then sold to the perp along with about 30 other cards on eBay through an attorney in late 2007 through mid-2008
and bought back in PSA holders from the perp by the same members of the investigative team. Both cards are without
question the same cards. The surface scratches on the front and grain patterns on the back are identical. The Cheney
card has at least 80 print flaws under careful inspection.
NOTE: Depending on your browser and computer settings, the matched cards will either appear
side-by-side (scroll sideways) or one over the other (scroll downward).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these two 1963 Topps Jim King cards below (pay close attention to the bottom corners). Also notice how the trapezoidal cut on the left and right side of
the raw card is now parallel on the graded card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these next two 1963 Topps Jim King cards below (again - pay close attention to the bottom corners).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these two 1967 Topps Sammy Ellis cards below. Not only do the print marks match, but there is matching surface scuffing on Ellis' pitching arm (forearm and bicep).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the tiny dots on the top border on the left front of the card above the word "SAMMY". Even though these scans are not the same
exact scale, on a proportional basis the tiny dots are clearly closer to the top edge on the graded card. Also notice the improved corners
on the graded card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this comparison the graded card clearly has an improved corner.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded card. The corner of the graded card is clearly improved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The same is true for the rest of the top edge of the card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still not convinced? Compare these two 1961 Topps Tom Cheney cards below. Notice the "snow" and the streaks on the front. There clearly many unique features to this card:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On these front blow-ups, look at the two tiny dots on the top border above the "P" on his cap. Those same two dots are clearly positioned much closer to the
top edge of the graded card. In addition the corner on the graded card is sharper and squarer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded card. Also notice the tiny dot above and slightly to the left of the
vertical line between the word "ERA" and the number "27.00" on both cards. The same dot is clearly positioned much closer to the top edge of the graded card.
These are some of the better examples of this perp's card altering work, however I have roughly 60 more pairs of before and after scans taken from
eBay auctions which show evidence of improved ascetics of the graded card compared to the same ungraded card. I am also convinced that this is a
majority report of what this person sells. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the claim as well. There are hundreds of instances where
raw cards were purchased but the scans were marginal to tell if the card was trimmed but the perp managed to get a 1 to 2 bump on the graded card.
In my vast experience, most eBay sellers of raw cards overgrade the cards they sell - not undergrade.
Also, all PSA graded eBay sales of this perp can be found on:
http://www.vintagecardprices.com/ (a membership is required however)
Perhaps someone can ask that website if they can run a total sales report to get an idea of what the financial impact has been the last 3 or 4 years.
My contact info:
e-mail: dan_markel@sbcglobal.net
Below is a brief explanation regarding these four raw (or ungraded) cards shown:
The first two scans of raws cards, both '63 Topps Jim Kings, were downloaded from eBay by seller "excuzme" shortly after
the perp won the cards in the early part of 2007. For a long list of reasons, we are certain these raw cards are the same as the ones graded.
One compelling example is that on the PSA 9 specimen, there is a diagonal surface scratch on King's left elbow and
also to the right of the yellow circle. Under close scrutiny these can be seen on the raw card scan. The fisheyes and print snow also match.
The second pair, the '67 Ellis and '61 Cheney were scanned front and back with a high resolution scanner
generating a file size of 4-6 megabytes each. These two cards were owned by collectors in this investigative team,
then sold to the perp along with about 30 other cards on eBay through an attorney in late 2007 through mid-2008
and bought back in PSA holders from the perp by the same members of the investigative team. Both cards are without
question the same cards. The surface scratches on the front and grain patterns on the back are identical. The Cheney
card has at least 80 print flaws under careful inspection.
NOTE: Depending on your browser and computer settings, the matched cards will either appear
side-by-side (scroll sideways) or one over the other (scroll downward).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these two 1963 Topps Jim King cards below (pay close attention to the bottom corners). Also notice how the trapezoidal cut on the left and right side of
the raw card is now parallel on the graded card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these next two 1963 Topps Jim King cards below (again - pay close attention to the bottom corners).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare these two 1967 Topps Sammy Ellis cards below. Not only do the print marks match, but there is matching surface scuffing on Ellis' pitching arm (forearm and bicep).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the tiny dots on the top border on the left front of the card above the word "SAMMY". Even though these scans are not the same
exact scale, on a proportional basis the tiny dots are clearly closer to the top edge on the graded card. Also notice the improved corners
on the graded card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this comparison the graded card clearly has an improved corner.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded card. The corner of the graded card is clearly improved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The same is true for the rest of the top edge of the card.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still not convinced? Compare these two 1961 Topps Tom Cheney cards below. Notice the "snow" and the streaks on the front. There clearly many unique features to this card:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On these front blow-ups, look at the two tiny dots on the top border above the "P" on his cap. Those same two dots are clearly positioned much closer to the
top edge of the graded card. In addition the corner on the graded card is sharper and squarer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the roughness of the top edge of the ungraded card and the smoothness of the graded card. Also notice the tiny dot above and slightly to the left of the
vertical line between the word "ERA" and the number "27.00" on both cards. The same dot is clearly positioned much closer to the top edge of the graded card.
These are some of the better examples of this perp's card altering work, however I have roughly 60 more pairs of before and after scans taken from
eBay auctions which show evidence of improved ascetics of the graded card compared to the same ungraded card. I am also convinced that this is a
majority report of what this person sells. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the claim as well. There are hundreds of instances where
raw cards were purchased but the scans were marginal to tell if the card was trimmed but the perp managed to get a 1 to 2 bump on the graded card.
In my vast experience, most eBay sellers of raw cards overgrade the cards they sell - not undergrade.
Also, all PSA graded eBay sales of this perp can be found on:
http://www.vintagecardprices.com/ (a membership is required however)
Perhaps someone can ask that website if they can run a total sales report to get an idea of what the financial impact has been the last 3 or 4 years.
My contact info:
e-mail: dan_markel@sbcglobal.net
0