Thursday

Sports cards and Pokemon cards are too expensive. What do you do.

After May 2020, sports cards and pokemon cards have taken off. Prices becoming insanely high and are being treated like a coolmodity, like every other Covid fad. So where do you go when your hobby has been highjacked by speculators?

I don't know about you but I hit the non-sports card market. I have swept up some of my favorite sets to date, including mostly near mint - mint 1977 Star Wars complete sets 1-5 with stickers, and even had the fun of separating a 1981 Star Wars Burger King Coca Cola 36 card set which only cost me a Burger King lunch.

However, the set that impressed me the most was the 1981 Tron Topps set and stickers. They look so good in the black backed card binders.

Call this my rotation in collectible cards for the time being. I likely won't buy another sports card until Fall 2021 when things return to normal. But for now, these affordable vintage collectible non-sports cards and sets are totally cool. For you, "whatever" folks, check the prices for high grade 1977 Star Wars in PSA slabs. The market is real.

Wednesday

Documented and Proven Trimmed Stephen Curry and James Harden Rookie RC Cards

 THIS IS COMPLETELY REPOSTED FROM BLOWOUTFORUMS

In 2019 the FBI investigations into the sports card collectibles marketing and fraudulent trimming and altering of cards for higher grades from PSA, SGC, and BGS. They uncovered a huge problem in the sports card collectibles. James Harden and Stephen Curry fans buying autographed rookie cards.
 
 
ALERT: 93 PROVEN TRIMMED Stephen Curry and James Harden RCs Sold Via PWCC

POINTS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS THREAD:

1. Please share this thread wherever and with whoever you can. I have spent many hours working on this all I ask for in return is that as many people as possible see this.

2. Urge PWCC to release a list of all cards submitted by major trimmers. This is the only way to definitively know what other cards are trimmed (see below: This list is not complete.).

3. In the meantime, use PWCC's auction archive as a trimmed card database.

CRITICAL NOTES REGARDING THE LIST BELOW:

This list is NOT COMPREHENSIVE whatsoever. There are many cards that could not be located on Worthpoint. In fact, most of the cards sold by PWCC that are not included in this thread were not located, not untrimmed. Moreover, Exquisite, Contenders, Topps Chrome, Topps Chrome Refractors, Bowman 48 Base, some Prestige cards, and other similar cards with solid borders were not researched. This is troubling itself, as those cards are the most likely to be trimmed in my opinion. Finally, it should go without saying that anything that is not serial numbered or autographed could not be researched.

The list is structured such that the way to detect trimming in the heading is applicable for all cards in that section. Subheadings are only applicable for the card that is listed directly below them.

Photos of the most difficult to detect cards are provided at the bottom. Please let me know (in the thread) if there are additional cards that should have before/after photos produced. I will try to fulfill any requests.

Finally, please keep all inquiries/requests in this thread if at all possible. My inbox is basically full.

STEPHEN CURRY TRIMMED CARD LIST:

CROWN ROYALE USING SOCK:
1. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 286/399 #103 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1796597939
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1378386
ALSO USE DIAMOND ON LEFT SIDE OF BOTTOM EDGE:
2. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 387/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...387-1872491178
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593111
3. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 233/399 #103 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...own-1817336813
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1396974
ALSO USE DIAMOND ON LEFT SIDE OF BOTTOM EDGE:
4. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 087/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1820862986
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1456558

CROWN ROYALE USING VERTICAL ORNATE PATTEN AT INTERSECTION OF BACK BOTTOM BORDER:
5. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 181/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1796597598
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384782
6. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 011/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...raph-402517920
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1435082
7. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 045/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1874924183
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1564258
8. 2009 Crown Royale Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 312/399 #103 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...312-1872413993
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549170

ABSOLUTE TOP RIGHT CORNER DAMAGE:
9. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 022/499 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-jsy-505599816
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1472153

ABSOLUTE USING SHOE POSITION W/ RESPECT TO BOTTOM EDGE ON REVERSE:
10. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 391/499 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1808413124
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1564254
11. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 329/499 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1729474492
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1163639

COURT KINGS TOP EDGE USING BLAZERS PLAYER:
12. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 097/649 #129 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ings-477101048
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1275919
13. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 221/649 #129 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ngs-1755948359
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1176777
14. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 172/649 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urt-1810566307
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1378388
ALSO LEFT AND RIGHT EDGES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS:
15. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 432/649 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...auto-160290540
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1870512913
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1564274
ALSO USE TOP EDGE ON BACK:
16. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 245/649 #129 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1843058046
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1599668

COURT KINGS LEFT EDGE USING WHITE-SHIRTED PERSON:
17. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 416/649 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...129-1843879564
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1466312
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-10-1870985705

COURT KINGS LEFT EDGE USING WHITE NOTCH:
18. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 171/649 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
PRESENT 3X PRE-TRIMMING. MISSING 2X POST TRIMMING.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urt-1731927784
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ourt-243307574
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urry-291434465
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1200337
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ini-1851768234

COURT KINGS USING BOTTOM EDGE:
19. 2009 Panini Court Kings Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 537/649 #129 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urt-1786006329
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1303586

STUDIO & STUDIO SKYLINES CORNER/EDGE WEAR (FRONT AND/OR BACK):
20. 2009 Studio Skylines Signatures Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 78/99 #9 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1808567177
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1496796
21. 2009 Studio Skylines Signatures Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 79/99 #9 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1782368890
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1456560
ALSO USE WHITE ON SOCK, SPALDING LETTERS, BUILDINGS ON BACK:
22. 2009 Studio Skylines Signatures Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 71/99 #9 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510912
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1755906623
ALSO USE WHITE ON SOCK. ALSO HAS RIGHT EDGE DING:
23. 2009 Studio Skylines Signatures Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 12/99 #9 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urry-128861401
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1319618
24. 2009 Panini Studio Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 179/199 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urry-464463687
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1873817520
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1564285
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2009-10-Ste...p2047675.l2557
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P5EAA...CE/s-l1600.jpg
25. 2009 Panini Studio Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 060/199 #129 BGS 9.5 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...aph-1692388025
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384814
BOTTOM EDGE AND CORNER WEAR:
26. 2009 Panini Studio Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 011/199 #129 PSA 10 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...dio-1839335201
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510911
EDGE DING ON ARM, ALSO USE WARRIORS LETTERS:
27. 2009 Studio Bronze Proof Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 185/199 #129 PSA 10 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1802737680
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384793

STUDIO SKYLINES USING SPALDING LETTERS:
28. 2009 Panini Studio Skylines Proof Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 103/199 #9 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...nes-1807722550
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1912699
29. 2009 Panini Studio Skylines Proof Stephen Curry ROOKIE 054/199 #9 PSA 9 MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...dio-1818561103
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1351986

LIMITED EDGE DAMAGE (REF. WORTHPOINT DESCRIPTION):
30. 2009 Limited Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 018/299 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urry-462329978
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510909

PRESTIGE #207 USING RIGHT EDGE:
31. 2009 Panini Prestige Bonus Shots Black Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 04/10 BGS 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1761571430
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1275987
32. 2009 Panini Prestige Bonus Shots Orange Stephen Curry RC 143/300 #207 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...eph-1885467112
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1931770
33. 2009 Panini Prestige Draft Light Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 401/999 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...cks-1846801681
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ige-1815691611
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1857009

PRESTIGE USING TOP EDGE DAMAGE ON BACK:
34. 2009 Panini Prestige Light Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 072/100 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1738673031
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1275985

CERTIFIED USING CORNER-AREA ON BACK BOTTOM EDGE:
35. 2009 Certified Basketball Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO PATCH 026/399 BGS 9.5
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...176-1849010970
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1466309

CERTIFIED REAR EDGE/CORNER DAMAGE:
36. 2009 Certified Basketball Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO PATCH 197/399 BGS 9.5
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ric-1873260625
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1579211

R&S DRESS FOR SUCCESS MAJOR DAMAGE:
37. 2009 R&S Dress For Success Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO PATCH 17/25 BGS 9.5
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ies-1782780071
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ies-1726431005
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510914

SP GAME USED ROOKIE EXCLUSIVE EDGE/CORNER DAMAGE:
38. 2009 SP Game Used Exclusives Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO 059/100 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...eck-1731776970
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1163671
39. 2009 SP Game Used Exclusives Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO 061/100 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1761183711
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1370118

TOPPS GOLD REAR EDGE/CORNER DAMAGE:
40. 2009 Topps Gold Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1826/2009 #321 BGS 9 MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1851787991
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1820848318
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...old-1847523036
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1504421
41. 2009 Topps Gold Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1789/2009 #321 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1608995
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...789-1872811567
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1319624
42. 2009 Topps Gold Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 0349/2009 #321 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ard-1860113825
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1472012
43. 2009 Topps Gold Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1916/2009 #321 PSA 9 MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...old-1818417166
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1352028

ELITE REAR EDGE/CORNER DAMAGE:
44. 2009 Donruss Elite Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 155/499 #166 BGS 9 MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1892827834
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1695893
45. 2009 Donruss Elite Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 489/499 #166 PSA 9 MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1817337871
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1319610

PRESS PASS FUSION TOP RIGHT EDGE/CORNER DAMAGE:
NOTE: BOTH SOLD UNTRIMMED AT SAME TIME. NOW HAVE CONSECUTIVE PSA SERIAL NUMBERS.
46. 2009 Press Pass Fusion Timeless Talent Green Red Stephen Curry RC AUTO 41/50 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ald-1802635967
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384805
47. 2009 Press Pass Fusion Autographs Green Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 44/50 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ald-1802635966
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384804

TOPPS CHROME REFRACTOR REAR CORNER DAMAGE (CORNER ADJACENT TO CARD NUMBER):
48. 2009 Topps Chrome Refractor Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 270/500 #101 PSA 10 GEM
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ome-1844443044
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1570624

CONTENDERS TANDEMS REAR CORNER/EDGE DAMAGE:
49. 2009 Playoff Contenders Tandems Mullin Stephen Curry RC AUTO 05/10 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...lin-1806992238
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549196

UD DRAFT DRAFT CLASS TRIPLE EDGE WEAR:

50. 2009 UD Draft Class James Harden Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 59/60 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uto-1800929846
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1895031

CLASSICS USING VARIOUS MARKS W/ RESPECT TO EDGES:

51. 2009 Panini Classics Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 191/499 #166 PSA 10 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-10-1809137856
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1396976
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1889432999
52. 2009 Panini Classics Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO 053/499 #166 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1860186962
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510904

NATIONAL TREASURES COLOSSAL EDGE DAMAGE:
53. 2009 National Treasures Colossal Stephen Curry RC AUTO PATCH 47/49 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...sal-1809138078
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1510910

(PWCC -> PROBSTEIN) TIMELESS TREASURES APPRENTICE RIGHT EDGE USING YELLOW-GREEN ORNATE DESIGN:
54. 2009 Timeless Treasures Apprentice Stephen Curry ROOKIE PATCH 36/50 PSA 10
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1287520
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1929167348

BOWMAN '48 BLUE CORNER/EDGE DAMAGE:
55. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 0525/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1819699507
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1429566
56. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 0393/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1806326228
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1384779
57. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1080/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...106-1798854327
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1451227
58. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 0790/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1824412287
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1836404151
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1451226
59. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1603/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...hen-1862252755
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549164
60. 2009 Bowman '48 Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC 1102/1948 #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...106-1890840581
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1608935

ABSOLUTE STAR GAZING CORNER DAMAGE:
61. 2009 Absolute Memorabilia Star Gazing Materials Signatures Stephen Curry RC AUTO PATCH 22/25 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rry-1818713072
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1496786

SEASON UPDATE DUALS USING TEAM LOGOS:
USE "O" IN CLIPPERS LOGO ON BACK:
62. 2009 Panini Season Update Duals Griffin Stephen Curry RC AUTO 40/49 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1876444288
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593123
USE "I" IN KINGS ON BACK:
63. 2009 Panini Season Update Duals Evans Stephen Curry RC AUTO 31/49 #5 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ini-1809509359
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1894985

CERTIFIED POTENTIAL USING BOTTOM EDGE DAMAGE AND HEXAGONAL PATTERN:
64. 2009 Panini Certified Potential Gold Stephen Curry ROOKIE 09/25 #27 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...010-1732642346
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1351989

PRESTIGE #230 USING EDGE WEAR:
65. 2009 Panini Prestige Light Blue Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO 098/100 SGC 98/10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...aft-1798576918
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1686198

PRESTIGE DRAFT USING TOP BORDER (CURRY'S HAT OR DOT PATTERN):
66. 2009 Panini Prestige Draft Class Stephen Curry RC AUTO BGS 10 PRISTINE SER#: 0006952508
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1840946503
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1496794
67. 2009 Panini Prestige NBA Draft Class Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO #7 PSA 10 SER#: 26085850
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...aft-1818264582
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1351982
68. 2009 Panini Prestige NBA Draft Class Stephen Curry ROOKIE AUTO #7 PSA 10 SER#: 24245956
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...auto-440539812
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1287488
69. 2009 Prestige NBA Draft Class Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO #7 BGS 10 BLACK LABEL SER#: 0009284642
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1759171027
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1389989

PANINI NEXT DAY USING LEFT EDGE:
70. 2009 Panini Next Day Stephen Curry ROOKIE RC AUTO #SCU PSA 10 GEM MINT SER#: 25885113
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1806341922
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1370107




JAMES HARDEN TRIMMED CARD LIST:

COURT KINGS USING TOP EDGE & TOP CORNERS:
1. 2009 Court Kings James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 432/649 #145 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...urt-1791027465
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1429578
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1636947

CROWN ROYALE USING VERTICAL ORNATE PATTEN AT INTERSECTION OF BACK BOTTOM BORDER:
2. 2009 Crown Royale James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 376/599 #103 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...mes-1853649319
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1585230
3. 2009 Crown Royale James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 468/599 #103 BGS 10 PRISTINE
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...own-1850274937
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549171
4. 2009 Crown Royale Die-Cut James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 261/599 #104 BGS 9.5
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uto-1857134379
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1472305
5. 2009 Crown Royale Die-Cut James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 534/599 #104 BGS 9 MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...nini-408062608
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1491603
6. 2009 Crown Royale Die-Cut James Harden ROOKIE AUTO 208/599 #104 BGS 9.5 GEM
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...den-1850274935
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1497287

CROWN ROYALE USING DIAMOND-SHOE INTERSECTION:
7. 2009 Crown Royale Die-Cut James Harden ROOKIE PSA/DNA 10 AUTO 048/599 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uto-1912982103
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1922501958
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1857001

CLASSICS USING REAR BOTTOM LEFT CORNER AREA:
8. 2009 Panini Classics James Harden ROOKIE PSA/DNA 10 AUTO 101/499 #163 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...101-1902672471
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1931767
9. 2009 Classics Basketball James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 011/499 #163 BGS 9.5
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1893028448
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1815833

CLASSICS USING VARIOUS MARKS W/ RESPECT TO EDGES:
10. 2009 Panini Classics James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 269/499 #163 PSA 10 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...kie-1855211838
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1491612

ELITE USING REAR EDGE WEAR:
11. 2009 Donruss Elite James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 194/479 #163 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...lite-470784372
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uss-1858762835
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1646270

TOPPS CHROME REFRACTOR USING REAR CORNER WEAR:
12. 2009 Topps Chrome Refractor James Harden ROOKIE RC 152/500 #99 PSA 10 GEM MT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-10-1755226357
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1871404

TOPPS GOLD USING REAR EDGE DAMAGE:
13. 2009 Topps Gold James Harden ROOKIE RC 1617/2009 #319 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-rc-1856234916
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549211
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1608984

SP GAME USED USING CORNER & EDGE DAMAGE:
14. 2009 SP Game Used James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 4/5 #118 PSA 10 GEM MINT
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...sed-1855847844
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593150

SP GAME USED ROOKIE EXCLUSIVE USING THREADS ON LEFT EDGE & BOTTOM LEFT CORNER DAMAGE:
15. 2009 SP Game Used Exclusive James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 025/100 PSA 10 GEM
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...sed-1861128240
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1466330
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1549204

LIMITED USING BACK RIGHT EDGE GEOMETRY:
16. 2009 Panini Limited James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 289/299 #153 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...okie-504551248
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593131

ROOKIES & STARS USING BOTTOM RIGHT EDGE AREA:
17. 2009 Panini Rookies & Stars James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO PATCH 404/449 PSA 10
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...rden-539280023
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593127

UD DRAFT USING BASKETBALL PATTERN AT TOP EDGE (FRONT & BACK):
18. 2009 Upper Deck Draft Edition James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO 403/499 PSA 10 GEM
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...aft-1859127667
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1491645

PRESTIGE USING CRUSHED TOP RIGHT CORNER:
NOTE: I AM UNSURE IF THIS CARD HAS BEEN TRIMMED. REGARDLESS, I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN SOMEHOW ALTERED.
19. 2009 Panini Prestige Light Blue James Harden ROOKIE AUTO 83/100 #203 PSA 9
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ght-1869004774
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1815834

PRESTIGE DRAFT USING TOP RIGHT CORNER & BACK LEFT EDGE:
20. 2009 Prestige NBA Draft Class James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO #3 BGS 9.5 GEM Ser#: 0010013475
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uto-1863677201
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1608970

PRESTIGE DRAFT USING TOP EDGE DOTS & HAT:
21. 2009 Prestige NBA Draft Class James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO #3 PSA 10 GEM SER#: 27959756
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ass-1863072138
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1593124
22. 2009 Panini Prestige Draft Class James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO #3 BGS 9.5 SER#: 0009718875
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...aph-1858578397
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1491620

PRESTIGE DRAFT USING TOP RIGHT CORNER:
23. 2009 Prestige NBA Draft Class James Harden ROOKIE RC AUTO #3 PSA 10 GEM SER#: 28584919
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...den-1825384613
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1608951

PRESTIGE DRAFT USING BACK LEFT EDGE:
24 2009 Panini Prestige Draft Class James Harden ROOKIE AUTO BGS 10 PRISTINE SER#: 0009766791
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...uto-1861274861
https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1496793



SELECTED STEPHEN CURRY TRIMMED CARD IMAGE COMPOSITES:

Example for Curry and Harden Crown Royale "Orate Pattern" detection:


Selected composites of Currys #12-19:


Curry #37 (Had to make sure everyone could appreciate this train wreck):


Curry #51 and #52:


Curry #54:




SELECTED JAMES HARDEN TRIMMED CARD IMAGE COMPOSITES:

Harden #6:


Harden #10:


Harden #16:


Harden #17:


Harden #18:


Harden #24:

Monday

2020 TCG and Sports Cards a Retrospective Pikachu Promo

As a restrospective of 2020 I selected a fitting collectible card. One that I had my eyes on when they first started appearing and my appreciation of Edvard Munch, which I got to see in person at a museum. The card is the 2018 Pikachu Munch: A Retrospective. A Japanese promo Pokemon card from a promo in conjunction with a Tokyo museum.

Note the prices bid for this card in early 2020.

Compare prices within the last month.
Still can't believe your eyes? Accept that you just saw a jump from $125 to $2175 in a 12 month period. According to PSA data, Pokemon card sellers everywhere have taken in bigger gains this year than it has in over a decade combined. Those little Pokemon cards are all grown up and commanding adult prices. Even adults who were never aware that Pokemon cards were a thing are learning about them and how Pokemon can evolve and as a trainer which ones to have, and how they correlate to price. The magic is gone. What are kids to do now? 

Thursday

Examples of trimmed baseball cards

I personally think it is fairly easy to spot a trimmed sports card. Firstly, once you've seen enough card from specific years in authentic unaltered versions a particularly shaped sharp corner gets my senses tingling.

Super sharp corners on any pre-1960 card raises multiple flags even when specifically called out. There are many trimmed cards in PSA, SGC, and BGS slabs on the market and discerning those from authentic unaltered ones can get tricky. So lets practice. Spot the trimmed edges and corners on the next few cards. These are from eBay being sold as trimmed cards.

Good job, you see it isn't that difficult to spot the trimmed edges and corners.




Wednesday

Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) 1969 RC PSA 7 Sells for $10k more in December 2020 than in March

I have been looking at buying a Lew Alcindor or otherwise know as Kareem Abdul Jabbar for years. Centered enough and high enough a grade.

Back in March I was thinking about picking one up then COVID shutdowns happened. The $1500 card I was looking at buying after years of capitulation is now completely out of reach as of December 2020.

Note the auction prices realized in early March for a PSA 7. 
Then look at the auction ending December 23 for a nicely centerd PSA 7. 

I hope they love that card because that is a $10k increase in price in 9 months. Dealers and sellers are loving it right now when a new collector comes along and pays these crazy premiums. Enjoy the hunt everyone!

Official Sports Card Bubble of 2020

It is official, people have gone off the deep end due to the COVID19 pandemic. Baseball cards and sports cards in general have reached bubble valuations in the past 9 months. Just comparing PSA prices realized in February 2020 to December 2020 shows how high prices have gone up and how fast.

There are sellers running out of low grade stock and selling high grade cards at 5x to 20x the price they were 9 months ago, especially in basketball cards. However some cards seem to appreciating at a more sustainable pace than others, like in baseball. For instance a Jackie Robinson 1954 PSA 7 averaged $$700-$900 and a PSA 5 averaged $200-$300 in February to early March 2020.

As of today, December 22, 2020 the average price is between $1100-$1500 and $400-$600.
The truly centered and unaltered cards fetching the highest premiums from savvy new collectors. Overpriced cards changing hands often in high volume is common this year.
As with all bubbles though, they deflate. Some quickly and some slowly. It is my opinion and simple market physics that the cards that jumped prices the highest the quickest will fall the most just as quickly, while the sustained rise in prices of some cards such as higher grade 5.5+ of iconic early Jackie Robinson, early Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, and Ted Williams may not deflate much at all.

As with any trading, do your due diligence. Population count vs. popularity trends vs. Actual rarity tend to get collectors in a price traps. Liken prices to stocks but different. Know that what caused this dynamic will eventually ease so recognize when to buy and sell. Like stocks, the sports cards market has its seasonal ebbs and flows. Buy low and sell high. Treasure the rare gems that strike your fancy and keep the hobby sustainable because in the end someone will have a better one or someone got it cheaper.

Friday

HOW TO SPOT AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TRIMMED SPORTS CARDS - Beckett

Ran across a nice artcile on Beckett by Andy B. With a few pointers to spotting trimmed cards.


Another aspect I like to do is see how the card I am looking compares to other cards in same slabs with the same grades then look how much space appears around the cards in the holder. They are all over the place but you can find how unaltered cards fit nearly perfectly and altered ones seem to have a small spaces on the horizontal or vertical edges. Of course some cards are dropped and damaged, and if that is the cause of the shrinkage generally OK with it.

Wednesday

How good are you at spotting reprint, original, or counterfeit cards?

Lets see if you can find the one card that doesn't belong... which one is the counterfeit card.

Post you answers!

Tuesday

Reports of Fake or Altered cards in PSA and BGS slabs are skyrocketting in 2020.

ALERT: Fake – Trimmed – Altered – Graded Cards by PSA or BGS flooding consignment services and eBay.

2020 RED ALERT

This is the alert from sportscardradio.com.
Being this is the year of the tulips in sports cards the fakers and scammers are in full swing. Being in PSA or BGS slab doesn't mean it is real or unaltered. They are only good as their last big miss. Think twice maybe three times before making any large purchase online. You should look at the card carefully, ask the questions, compare true originals, visit a card shop and look at them.Take a lot of time before the purchase. If anything feels off. Stop and walk away. Quite a few on eBay are listed in the article below. I stick with raw cards because they are easier to identify during some years against reprints, fakes, and altered cards. Once you see an original in good form in a slab then compare that with others... the red flags are easy to identify. Same with identifying raw card authenticity. Do you due diligence.

Below is the link to a riveting article and sources of good information and draws scrutiny perhaps mostlynfrom scammers and players in the card collecting world.


Numerous cards have been found to be fake or altered in graded slabs. Grading is only as good as the grader and at the volume people are sending in cards, don't expect quality grades. So many cards that are off center still get Mint Gem 10 while another grader may give it a MC or OC flag. This is rampant especially with modern cards. Most young collectors don't care about centering while the most scrutinizing collectors do.

Sunday

Original print, reprint, or counterfeit? Guess which?

I purchased two cards with #181 and #253 on them. I also have one that is graded PSA 8 of the Brewer-Erving-Hayes Dunk card on its way to make it official.

The two cards were $5 each from two sellers, one a reputable card shop in town. They both have the card numbers mentioned above on them but very different qualities. So here they are. Do you know which is an original print?

To mess you up flipped the cards to the other side for the reverse comparisons.
I have a feeling the card on the right, left on the reverse is the fake. You can see the lack of detail in the numbers and jersey on the players. The reverse is more difficult to differntiate but the fake card has a slightly larger type size on the reverse and slightly zoomed image on the front. 

This is from eBay, a seller with the coveted Bird, Erving, Johnson card making the case for their raw card being original.

So which is it? I have a none mint PSA graded version of the Erving, Brewer card on its way to compare. I still have a hard time accepting that a 1980 card was a little sloppy. Next blog will do just that and see if helps clarify the differences between an original print and reprint.

Not the definitve guide to spotting reprints and fakes in Bird Magic 1980 cards

Looking to see if that Larry Bird or Magic Johnson card you have or bidding on is the real deal or another reprint or even worse, a counterfeit fake?

Well you found someone wondering the same.
First here are known reprints thanks to eBay. This is an official reprint from Topps and this seller has a graded slab that says so. The real reprint market is just as alive as originals it seems.

1. Note the genuine reprints have dates and markings indicating it is a valid reprint. 1996 was when the official reprints were printed.

2. Also notice the perforations have no breaks in the official reprints AND they are printed, not actually perforated. In the latter from Andy Boone in 2014 shows no perforations reprint as well. There are versions of this one floating around.

3. This is my opinion and I could be wrong but on the reverse of an official reprint and original the images are detailed on the front and the print is cleanly solid on the reverse.

My next blog will show two cards with Julius Erving Dunk 1980 on them. They only cost me a few dollars each so made for good examples to check. Can you figure out which one is an original print, counterfeit, or a reprint?