Newbie needs theories on factory freak Vince Carter

ox · October 26, 2009 10:29AM

Hello all. I've been lurking for a while and decided to sign up. I've been in the card business for about 20 years now and the graded card business for around 10 years now. I've submitted many cards to both PSA and BGS over the years. While I remain a BGS guy (largely for the holders), I respect the amount of talent working for PSA. I know BGS guys aren't very popular around here, but we're not all bad guys.

For the last year or so I've been on a mission to collect all 1998-99 Vince Carter rookies and their variations. A lot of it has to do with nostalgia for the "Vinsanity" days in the year 2000. It was the greatest feeding frenzy for one player I've ever experienced, and those of us buying and selling on ebay at that time made of lot of extra change. Many of the cards I've picked up for pennies these days that went for hundreds at the time. It's wild stuff.

At any rate, I was following and enjoying the 1990 Topps NNOF Frank Thomas thread, and realized just how many people enjoy factory print errors and variations. A few months I picked up a 1998-99 EX-Century Dunk N Go Nuts Vince Carter card that was like no other that I've ever seen before. I bought it on ebay from a guy in Japan and paid $8.60 for it. For those unfamiliar with these cards, they are a crystal clear plastic - a really neat card.

Here's what they are supposed to look like (got this one graded myself - my first and only 10 ever):

Here's the freak - I had BGS encapsulate it as "Authentic".

This card is tinted gold - I've never seen anything like it. Some of the lettering is spotty and looks like it transferred poorly. What I keep coming back to is how can the plastic itself be tinted another color? I'm welcoming any theories on this one. Does anyone know the printing process on these plastic cards?

vladguerrero · October 26, 2009 10:34AM

Nice cards, I remember when the Carter Slam Dunk contest happened, it was pretty wild and kicked off vince-anity accross the country, he had more than a few wild years like that.

My theory is that this dunk and go nuts card was dipped into coffee.

Welcome!

itzagoner · October 26, 2009 10:35AM

overheated? Coppertone?

cool cards.....hard to believe the Vinsanity craze is 10 years gone, short but sweet.

jacksoncoupage · October 26, 2009 10:38AM

Hello! And welcome...

I saw these when the guy was listing the singles a month or two ago. I think that Fleer likely printed a batch on a different colored plastic sheet. Odds are they werent intended for distribution and given that they are just now showing up (overseas no less), they were possibly obtained once Fleer closed shop. It seems unlikely that they were pulled from packs but if so, it's possible that Fleer made a quick change to the clear stock after a batch were cut and packed.

Have you asked the guy for details?

ox · October 26, 2009 10:43AM

<< <i>Hello! And welcome...

I saw these when the guy was listing the singles a month or two ago. I think that Fleer likely printed a batch on a different colored plastic sheet. Odds are they werent intended for distribution and given that they are just now showing up (overseas no less), they were possibly obtained once Fleer closed shop. It seems unlikely that they were pulled from packs but if so, it's possible that Fleer made a quick change to the clear stock after a batch were cut and packed.

Have you asked the guy for details? >>

I asked him for details via email and never got a response, unfortunately. The card itself is actually in perfect condition with razor sharp corners. I didn't really want BGS grading the condition because I didn't know how (or if) they would penalize the surface of the card for the print flaws. The condition didn't matter to me anyway.

If they were intentionally simply printed on a different colored plastic, why the problems with the lettering transfer? It's like the letters wouldn't properly adhere.

jackstraw · October 26, 2009 10:46AM

I was sick trying to buy his cards. Other then the SPA I was hot after the Stadium Club and Finest cards

Glad I got outbid every time now. Nice cards anyways but why would you not have them put a grade?

CDsNuts · October 26, 2009 11:22AM

Judging by the damage to the lettering, I would guess the guy did something to the cards, kind of like how some people have been boiling finest cards and calling them proofs- Link

ox · October 26, 2009 11:55AM

<< <i>Judging by the damage to the lettering, I would guess the guy did something to the cards, kind of like how some people have been boiling finest cards and calling them proofs- Link >>

I suppose you could be right, but why? That would hurt the value, not help it. We're talking about an obscure insert set here, nothing that would have great value. Also, the surface of the card is perfectly smooth - certainly shows no sign of any kind of trama. I personally think this is a factory condition but we'll likely never know for sure.

BunchOBull · October 26, 2009 12:12PM

I thought acrylic cards were known to yellow if no stored properly?

edited to add: I have some early Leaf cards, Leaf Gold Stars or something, in which the acrylic is the same color.

ox · October 26, 2009 12:26PM

<< <i>I thought acrylic cards were known to yellow if no stored properly?

edited to add: I have some early Leaf cards, Leaf Gold Stars or something, in which the acrylic is the same color. >>

I suppose that could explain the yellowing, but what about the screwy lettering?

BunchOBull · October 26, 2009 8:32PM

If the card were left on display, a lot of exposure to light, a reaction between the acrylic and the ink/paint may have occurred.

Newbie needs theories on factory freak Vince Carter

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