Real or Fake - 1965 topps Mantle

Bosox1976

Rolled the dice on kind of an oddball auction that included a few 1960's cards from a seller who sells lots of 1960's things (comic books, games, etc.) - anyway, among the cards was this Mantle.

On the "real" side, it feels right to the touch, the corner touches at the top look about as they should, and there is a tiny surface bubble near Mick's abdomen. Plus, it is likely trimmed along the left edge from the bat on down, although the border actually bulges out around the middle before it cuts in at the bat. Both borders are actually a little wavy. Not particularly well centered either.

On the "fake" side, it is very white on the borders - like brand new. Same with both the blue and white on the reverse.

I know that '65 Mantle reprints are plentiful, but hard to believe it would be trimmed too(?). Anybody familiar with the fakes?

Any thoughts are welcome.

wilkiebaby11

That's a horrible attempt at a trim. Other than that, I don't see any glaring issues with the card.

travis t

It's not trimmed. That card is notorious for being miscut.

bounce

the card is definitely trimmed

travis t

If you go to eBay and search "1965 Topps Mantle 350" you'll find that there are quite a few miscuts, and badly centered cards, even ones in slabs. If you want to maintain that the card is trimmed, go ahead, but again I defer to a factory flaw which also causes the card to have an oversized left border, sometimes with ink, as well as stray print on the top border. All right there on eBay. Go look.

Bosox1976

Interesting takes so far - please keep 'em coming. It would be among the worst factory miscuts I have come across over the years, but who knows? Both sides actually bow out at the middle of the card.

Sizing is correct at the top and bottom, but the card is actually a little wider than normal at the center as a result of those "bow outs".

seebelow

these ones are terribly off centered....im not sure about miscut at the factory.....but much more difficult to find centered than many are aware of (or not aware of).....but this one does look off on the left which is ok ...if the right side mirrored it even slightly....so I'm leaning towards trimmed

travis t

left border ink, bad cut



BVG-yuck



top border ink, bad cut



PSA 5(MC)

craig44

I would be surprised if that cut was factory. The right side also has a wave. One can really only tell if card was in hand so the edge itself could be seen.

Bosox1976

Boy, the cut, on both edges looks just like that bvg example - although mine is slightly better centered. Thanks for that example.

bishop

travis-- you may be right but the edge looks wavy to me as well as off center from the scan. I would have guessed trimmed.

travis t

You may be right

I may be crazy

But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.....



It's entirely possible the former owner of Mike's card decided to further "adjust" the already compromised condition of the card. What I'm seeing is the consistency of the cut along the edges. Not the straightness, god forbid because this card is, as I said before, notorious. Without having it in hand I could only surmise that the fuzziness of the cut all around is not consistent with the appearance of being trimmed. If Mike will run his finger along the edges of the card, any smoothness on one of those borders might indicate a trim. Otherwise, he should declare himself the proud owner of the WORST EVER MISCUT '65 TOPPS MANTLE! Since there are in fact so many, it could turn into somewhat of a reverse Registry competition to allow plenty of participation. There are dozens of these in circulation. Go find one and join the party!



In all candidness, I'd be more inclined to mistrust a dead nuts centered example of this card, because I'd immediately be suspicious of tampering. A high grade example in original form should be worth the big bucks paid.

Bosox1976

I did run my fingers along the edges - no parts were particularly smooth, but hard to tell much. I do think it is cut just like that BVG example - on both sides, so that gives me hope of authenticity and non-trimmed.

I didn't pay much for it, and the '68 Aaron it came with was quite nice, so not too worried.

What would you value it at for a PSA submission? Over a hundred or under a hundred?

travis t

Bolivar?



People pay up for anything with his face on it. Over @ AUTHENTIC or anything over PSA 2.

Mickey Mays

Send it to PSA, that's the only way to be sure. I am in the process of sell my Topps 1966 baseball cards, their were 8 reprints that overlapped my set, I am having PSA grade all 8 so when I sell them the buyer can be sure there are no reprints.



Good Luck with your card !

Bosox1976

Well, grades are in and it is...


Total Items: 2
Date Received: 8/31/2016
Date Shipped: N/A
Order Status: OK

Line # Item # Cert # Grade Description Type
1 1 26126066 EXCELLENT+ 5.5 1954 Topps 94 Ernie Banks Card
2 1 N8: MISCUT 1965 Topps 350 Mickey Mantle Card

DanBessette

Great banks!

BaltimoreYankee

+1 to travis t for calling the miscut on the Mantle.