Inspect a card - the basics

 Alteration Overview

 Card Soaking

 Detecting bleached cards

 Detecting trimmed cards

 Card sanding

 Detecting a rebacked card

 Aging and toning

 Detecting recolored cards

Detecting rebuilt corners

 Reglossed cards

 Errors and oddities

 Others plus flips & slabs

How-to:

 ID an altered flip

 Cleanly (crack) open a slab

Holder Tests:

 Beckett Slab Test

The card collection hobby is a multi-billion dollar industry. Unfortunately where money is involved there are problems. Admitted shady auction house practices, crooked dealers, deceptive practices and card doctors are all trying to scam you out of your hard earned money...and in the sportscard hobby that can mean thousands of dollars for a single card.

This website was developed by Kevin Saucier, a court authorized expert witness in card alterations and forensics, to help collectors get a better understanding of how to spot an altered card. Amazing examples of doctored cards few thought were possible are shown and detailed information given on how to detect them. Most of what is shown and discussed has already shocked and helped some of the most advanced collectors save money.

"The fact is card alteration is epidemic" - Rob Lifson.

While 3rd party authentication or grading companies do a good job of detecting alterations, card doctors with their advanced techniques seem to stay one step ahead of them. Many altered cards have and will get by card graders and end up in encapsulated in slabs or holders. It's possible that as much as 15% of high-valued graded cards may be altered.

For a real education buy the book "Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession" by award winning author Dave Jamieson. This book is a must for any collector, from beginning to the highly advanced!