Hey, I’m talking to someone about purchasing a shadowless Mewtwo. The card looks fantastic, but has this line on the back from the left border all the way through the ‘N’ to the bottom of the card. The seller said he thought it was a crease but it doesn’t show at all on the front. I’m thinking a minor scratch but it is difficult to tell. Was hoping someone here could help identify. And what do you think this will do to grading value assuming no other issues with the card. Thank you!
@emon3yy , it’s a crease or dent and will bump to an auto 6.
I thought as much but wanted to make sure. Unfortunate, such a beautiful card otherwise. Thanks a ton!
@emon3yy, Boo is right in that IF it is a crease or dent, it causes PSA 6 100% no if’s and’s or but’s. But that looks like a scratch to me. Need more pics of the card for us to help you in any way. There’s no change in the way the light bounces off the surface, no indication that it is a bend from that picture. No way to be certain. Light has a gradation by which it spreads over surfaces when photographed. If you get multiple angles you can more easily ascertain whether there is structural damage or a scratch. Looks like a scratch to me, which could still get a NM or even NM-MT grade (seeing as it’s on the back).
Now what actually looks like a dent to me isn’t the scratch, but the mark where the light changes ABOVE the scratch on the border. Almost parallel with the middle of the pokeball.
Here are the other 2 pics of the back that I have. Barely shows which is why I initially thought it was a scratch. I can try to get more pics as well. Thanks a lot for the detailed response.
@emon3yy get more pics and tag me–I’ll give my 2 cents. You need them to take good pictures, meaning good lighting. I actually feel that the scratch is not a dent/crease. BUT look above where the scratch starts on the border. The light changes over the surface, looking like a dent. Under a light, angle the scratch and the mark above it at a couple different angles. Good exposure.
Those last pictures you sent did absolutely nothing. You need lighting. Sellers that take underexposed or no direct lighting pics of cards bug me. You can’t tell anything about condition from them.
I requested better pictures. Thanks again for taking the time and helping me learn a bit more. I’ve only been back into the hobby for about a month and have already learned a lot about pictures/lighting really telling a different story sometimes. I have a long way to go but am having fun and learning more each day. I’ll get back to you if he is able to produce better pictures.
@emon3yy here’s an example of a good photo with good lighting that captures the condition of the area in question and shows whether there are bends or creases or not. This is a tiny crease here, and in the event of a bend, you need to take a couple angles and show how the light changes as is traverses the card. Hope this helps you.
@emon3yy, that’s what I was referring to by the way
@kingboo64 I figured that’s what you were referring to as well boo
Very helpful. He sent me an imgur video (gonna post below but not sure if it’ll work here). I’m done asking for more, I think he’s just a guy that found his collection and is a bit ignorant to card condition in general. Not sure if this will do much more for helping you assess the card but here it is.
Edit: nvm it doesn’t work. Probably just going to pass on this one. I’ll continue to search for cards and keep your advice in mind. Cheers, have a great Thanksgiving!
@emon3yy it didn’t work. Just take the photo and create a link with this:
And reply here the formal way where you have the option to include a pic. You want to paste the DIRECT LINK in that little popup window.
edit: you need to create a video link instead, using the video button on the post creator tool
A gif or video would really help to tell for sure. Based on the pictures looks like a scratch and not a dent or crease
@brendantheclayboy sorry I’ve tried to figure it out but not really sure how to make it a shareable video/gif on the forum here
@emon3yy , click reply at the bottom right of the page. Not quick reply. You will see this screen posted below.
Click the “Insert Video” option (it is the black clapboard)
You can post your direct link right there.
imgur.com/a/obdYbQC
@brendantheclayboy , ahhh ok I’m on mobile and didn’t see the desktop link at the bottom. Here it is. Not a great video but can take a better look. Really can’t see the dent you guys were refering to.
I probably did it incorrectly again lol I am struggling. On mobile I don’t see an option for imgur ‘direct link’ only the option to copy the link.
@emon3yy, I watched it. So you are right, the guy has no idea what he’s doing. I think I saw the dent (not the scratch, but the tiny binder ring indent that is common when people didn’t store cards correctly) in that video. It isn’t worth your time if it is a card you are trying to buy to grade at some point, or have hold its value, or resell later, etc. If you happened to be buying the card strictly for binder/display purposes, the right price may be worth it for you, on the other hand. A dented, therefore PSA 6, Mewtwo would be worth no more than $50-75 though (depending on how clean front is of course). Hope this helps, and best of luck finding a Mewtwo if you don’t get that one. Cheers.
@brendantheclayboy yeah I’m going to pass. My goals right now are to seek out high quality WOTC cards that I don’t have so my money is better spent elsewhere. Again, thank you for taking the time and having the patience with my forum ignorance. Learned some things about both card quality AND the forum, so I’ll book it as a productive post! Cheers!