I am curious as to what is an acceptable size before a card is considered trimmed. I have several 54-55 Terry Sawchuks, Johnny Bower and Tim Hortons from the same year that very as much as 1/16 inch in both width and height. As a matter of fact all the cards I have from that year in particular, very quite a bit in size. I know that none of these were trimmed because they have been in my family since they were purchased new. So what is acceptable before you accused of trimming?

Bill. Cards from the 50's vary in size. They would only be considered trimmed if they were altered after the fact. If they are just smaller from the factory that is fine unless they are so short that they don't meet a minimum size requirement, which I'm not even sure how much shorter the card would have to be.

Jim.

To expand on Bill's question, I've always had a problem with 55 Parkies, specifically with the "Quebec printing". Not sure if that's what they actually are but that's how I refer to the ones with the orange tint to the back.

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55 Parkies have a rough feel to the edges but the Quebec variations have a very smooth, sharp feel which I associate with a trimmed card. I've bought alot of 55 parkies over the years and always toss aside the ones that have smooth edges. I recently realized that 90 percent of the cards I've put in my trimmed pile are the different backed ones.

So, my questions are:
Can anyone check to see if they have any of these Quebec prints and let me know how the edge feels compared to a regular card?
Also, if anyone has sent any of these to a grading company, have they come back "evidence of trimming"?

Jim.

Jim. The 55 Parkies with the tan backs were distributed in the Quebec City area. I am not sure of where they were actually printed. The card stock is noticeably thinner than the gray back Parkies of the same year and the edges have more of a guillotine cut as well. I have sent these in to PSA on occasion and have received numerical grades. The tan backs are tougher to find than the gray backs but by no means rare.

Great info Mel. I feel like I just found a stack of free cards!!

I've never put any thought into how tough these backs may be but thinking about it now, I have probably had more quaker backs then these but I wasn't really paying attention until the last couple of years.

It would be interesting to get a back count from people building this set.

Jim.

I just looked through my set and doubles and I just have the 2 doubles plus the one that you traded for the other day. My set are all the other back. Which makes sense because they were all purchased in Ontario. The only thing I can think of to explain the Quebec backs I have is, they are from Misc. boxes of cards I have purchased over the years. Is there a higher value to these cards....not that it really matters because I only have the 2.

There is no difference in value.

Bill. I remember one of these in your binder but didn't trade for it.

Jim,

I only have one in my 55-56 set with the "orange back" # 43 Geoffrion. It has the same characteristics you mention. Smoother edges and slightly slimmer stock.

Rob