How does PSA grade tape stains?
spencerdorsey
Posts: 76
Just bought two 1952 Topps cards (Mays and Campanella) that have major tape stains. How do you think PSA would grade these? PSA 5 or 6 (ST) or PSA 1.5 like the Mantle that this seller sold at the same time? I assume that the Campanella doesn't have paper loss, but it's very possible that the Mays does.
Mays
Campanella
Mantle PSA 1.5
Mays
Campanella
Mantle PSA 1.5
0
Comments
According to a couple posts on that thread, tape stains get net graded. Only wax, gum, caramel, or something else originally packaged with the card can get a ST qualifier.
Between the tilt and the stains on the Campy card, I don't think it's going to grade very well. Mays looks even worse, with horrible T/B centering and probably paper loss, or if not paper loss, at least excess adhesive from the tape that will be difficult or impossible to remove. I hope you didn't pay more than PSA 1 money for either.
In other words, be careful if you try to mitigate the tape damage.
Scott
Always plenty of PSA-graded cards in my ebay store -- https://ebay.com/str/thelumbercompanysportscards
I cracked it out for my raw 50s box.
Nice 52s by the way!
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
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Dick Towle - of "Gone with the Stain" - swore he could remove all ink stains and tape stains - and that card companies would not detect the removal.
The other - the infamous Mr Mint was selling a bottle of "wax stain remover" in SCD for - IIR - for 99 bucks.
I also think I remember Mr Towle saying that if a stain is really deep into the cardboard - it can't be removed.
And last - I remember when some board members did an experiments with soaking cards in distilled water to removed ink from a card.
Of course - it begs the argument - is this a "true" alteration of the card or is one just removing something that wasn't supposed to be there in the first place? The purists sit on one side of the fence and the relativists on the other.
After:
This was done by the "Restoration Lab" - specializing in comics - she does incredible work on comics! This card was soaked and pressed.
The Restoration Lab