Hi Steve,
The cards are what they are. That's the way Scanlens trimmed them and packed them.
I realise that trimming is an issue with older cards these days however, by definition, trimming makes things smaller. If one measurement (length/width) for a card is BIGGER than standard, then it's pretty hard to say it has been trimmed! I agree, pretty hard to tell size from pics though. That's where knowledge has to come into it. In this case, you have to know that Scanlens cards from the 70s and 80s were never ALWAYS perfect (colours, centering and trimming are very common issues). Looking at a seller's other items and getting a general feel for them (look through their completed auctions, what they've been buying, etc) helps.
I have a slightly different philosophy when it comes to "grading". For me, if it comes out of a packet (and the packet wasn't crushed in the box!) it is in mint condition, pure and simple. It could be damaged, slightly to badly off centered, missing a colour (remember those Manly cards from 74 that looked like they were from Penrith!), misprinted, whatever - it is still "mint" in my mind.
The problem is that "mint", when talking about GRADING, refers to PERFECTION, not only condition. Honestly, when a "grading" company uses the word "MINT" is seriously p*sses me off - they should be using the word "PERFECT".
I think someone pulling out an old shoe box after 30 odd years wouldn't know or care if a card was perfect (or mint). So I don't have any issues with the seller in this case, or their listings.
If a collector was selling them, then yes, they would know trimming edges is now an issue and would probably have to add measurements to their listing to justify the "apparent" trimming. Pretty sad when something cheap and fun like footy cards requires forensics to be able to sell something without being villified!
For the record, I have sold some of these vintage cards recently (privately) and both described and imaged the "trimming issues".
Regards
Mike
A few questions that i would like to put to you as a collector is, 'would you buy your cards if you saw them for sale on ebay'. Not if I was trying to sell them, no, that would be shill bidding!
Seriously though, probably, if it was on my hit list and the price was right.
If you received cards like yours after buying them on ebay, would you say that you had been ripped off, i mainly mean the dimensions of each card. Honestly, no, because I should have looked at the pics carefully to ID any problems. If the card did appear to be recently trimmed (ie SMALLER in all dimensions) to produce good corners, then yes, I'd be jumping up and down.
Would a nicely edged set or even singles be of greater value. Yes, as we are talking perfection rather than condition.
Would you imply that they had been touched in some way, and what value would you put on your cards compared to say nicely edged cards. I would state the facts, specifically stating that they had NOT been messed with, but point out any potential issues. Let's not say nicely edged but instead straight edged - then I would, like most, value a perfectly square card more than a trapezoidal card, assuming the same general condition.
