Should I remove gum residue before getting 1963 Topps Mantle graded?

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judgebuck
judgebuck Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

I have a 1963 Topps Mickey Mantle with what appears to be gum residue on the front surface. Should I remove the gum residue (with woman's stocking) before getting it graded? The card grades about VG/EX-EX.

Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.

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  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Absolutely.

  • smallstocks
    smallstocks Posts: 1,810 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    100%


    Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
  • judgebuck
    judgebuck Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭
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    My concern is that removing the gum residue could cause abrasions on the card's surface.

    Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.

  • JimMeant
    JimMeant Posts: 373 ✭✭✭
    edited August 21, 2026 7:45PM
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    @judgebuck said:
    My concern is that removing the gum residue could cause abrasions on the card's surface.

    Given the card’s current condition of VG/EX personally I wouldn’t be concerned at the slight chance of causing surface abrasions while removing the gum stain.

    If it were my card, I would 100% attempt to remove the gum stain on the surface.

    -Collecting anything vintage
  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 21, 2026 8:50PM
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    @judgebuck said:
    My concern is that removing the gum residue could cause abrasions

    To avoid abrasions make sure the material used has a very soft texture. I’ve had my best success with a fancy dinner napkin or just a paper napkin works well too.

  • dontippet
    dontippet Posts: 2,619 ✭✭✭✭
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    panty hose works very well. Rub very gently at first. It has worked very well for me on the front of cards.

    > [Click on this link to see my ebay listings.](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_udlo=&_udhi=&_ftrt=901&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo=&_sabdhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=61611&_sargn=-1&saslc=1&_salic=1&_fss=1&_fsradio=&LH_SpecificSeller=1&_saslop=1&_sasl=mygirlsthree3&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_fosrp=1)
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  • dtmodel
    dtmodel Posts: 135 ✭✭✭✭
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    Old school Cloth diaper...

  • Chicago1976
    Chicago1976 Posts: 777 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've had success with microfiber silk lens cloth that you typically get with new glasses. Very soft, non abrasive.

  • judgebuck
    judgebuck Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭
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    Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I'll carefully try to remove it.

    Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.

  • judgebuck
    judgebuck Posts: 1,058 ✭✭✭
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    The microfiber silk lens cloth did the trick!! It didn't come off easy in a couple of places, but the cloth was soft and non abrasive.

    Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.

  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    Let’s see a pic

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • Vaderb8
    Vaderb8 Posts: 42 ✭✭✭
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    I’d be curious to know how much of an impact a gum/wax stain on the front of a card has.
    What would the difference in grade be if the card was submitted with said stain and then resubmitted with the stain removed.

  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 25, 2026 11:44AM
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    @Vaderb8 said:
    I’d be curious to know how much of an impact a gum/wax stain on the front of a card has.
    What would the difference in grade be if the card was submitted with said stain and then resubmitted with the stain removed.

    The simple removal of wax or gum residue from the front surface could mean the difference between a card graded with an (ST) qualifier or just a straight grade. It's typically a 2-grade difference or more, i.e. a PSA NM 7 would be vastly more desired than PSA NM 7(ST) which gets equated to 5. The obvious concern would be for value as a card with a qualifier will draw much less attention and lower price at auction. There are and have been plenty of cards graded in the past where the submitter didn't remove the residue and the card was graded accordingly. Then, when cards like this hit the open market, some folks will buy them, crack them out, clean them up and resubmit.

  • 1982FootballWax
    1982FootballWax Posts: 2,839 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 25, 2026 2:27PM
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    In 2016 submitted a non-sport Topps Test card with heavy wax residue. I checked off the box in the form that stated no qualifiers. It returned to me with a PSA 6

    In 2025 I cracked it out, removed the wax using microfiber, submitted it again and received a pure 7. If I removed it the first time back in 2016 it probably would have received an 8

    It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
    Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)

  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    Nice mantle

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS

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