Edge Wrinkles and Grading

charliehustle14

Hey Guys,

I wonder if anyone can enlighten me with how PSA treats edge wrinkles on regular vintage Topps cards. By this I mean barely noticeable wrinkles that run parallel to and are right next to the edge of the card. My guess is this is the result of the cutting process, whereby the tension on the paper results in the wrinkles. I've seen these on pre-1981 Topps cards as well as some Kellogg's issues. My only experience with how PSA treats these is with a few Kellogg's cards I bought that were graded PSA 9 or 10, despite these kind of wrinkles (on the reverse). I've seen these more commonly in the '73 Kellogg's baseball set, but also some in the 3-D variety. I noticed upon closer inspection that a few Topps cards that I had set back for grading a few years ago have these wrinkles.

Just to clarify, these are not the multiple wrinkles (I believe I've seen them called spider wrinkles) found throughout the front surface common on mid to late '70's Topps cards. Typically, there is just one long wrinkle running very close to one of the edges.

In my mind, these are a defect and should be treated similar to how other wrinkles and creases are treated in grading a card. Seeing that I have some 9's and 10's in Kelloggs's cards with these wrinkles, I wonder if PSA makes an allowance for how these cards were made, as opposed to the standard cardboard stock of vintage Topps cards. I'm not sitting on a vintage Mantle with one of these things...I just have a handful of vintage Topps commons that are part of my personal sets that I intend to have graded someday.

Any experiences anyone has had would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Todd

digicat

In my experience, the kinds of wrinkles you describe are not treated the same as wrinkles elsewhere on the card as long as they're only on the back. It almost seems like PSA ignores them.

itzagoner

i think it falls under the eye appeal and severity of the flaw.

i've submitted and purchased high grade cards which passed with a very slightly detectable ripple on either the back or front of a card.

typically, these tiny flaws are not necessarily visible to the naked eye, but can be found under a loupe.

it the ripple stands out like a sore thumb without magnification, forget it.

i've seen plenty of PSA 9's with this feature, but never a 10.

charliehustle14

Good info, guys. Thanks. That kind of confirmed for me what had surmised.

Todd

milbroco

I don't know about Topps but I have 2 1937 S&S Game cards that are graded PSA 5. They both have the same surface wrinkle you are describing and are completely unnoticeable to the naked eye. I popped them out and used a magnifying glass several times before I noticed them. There are no other flaws that I can see so I assume the wrinkles are why they graded a 5. Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Bob