I recently sold my Base Set Square Cut Cards, which I had a full set of for 2,500 dollars (Minus Machamp). I actually had Gary check them out and he verified they were almost certainly after market, which was kind of what I expected, but they still had value. I decided to sell them because I did not really like that their value did not depend so much on being an authentic cut, but just the fact that they were made this way at some point. Still, most of the cards were Near Mint and very tough to find as square cuts at all. How often do you see a Raichu square cut? I know the buyer was going to grade them through BGS and wonder how he did too.
With @thecharizardauthorty video about his graded square cuts, I was curious how good a sale I made and if I could have asked for even more. Also, curious if all his squares were factory or after market and would love his input. It was fun having them as part of my collection, but their sale allowed me to make other big purchases to help grow my hobby. Just thought it would be a fun talking point regarding squares.
@garyis2000, Thanks Gary. Part of me does miss them though. Iâm hoping this will catapult me to finish my 1st ed base set collection and get some other big name cards.
They sold surprisingly fast as I only had them up for a day when they got scooped up.
I think you got a good price due to the cards possibly being the result of a postfactory cut. And now with that money as you said you could buy more stuff for your collection. I would also love to see what you bought when it arrives.
^^^^^ Bought that! Then I went back and bought more from him. I have not posted the other purchase yet, but will soon. I try to put up a new vid every month or so. Definitely happy what I have been able to get so far.
Its really hard for the majority of the pokemon collecting population to differentiate between a ârealâ and a âfakeâ square cut card. This makes the value of either extremely speculative. I think thatâs a really good price considering.
Did you tell the buyer you believed they were hand cut? If so, why do they intend to get them authenticated through BGS despite knowing they arenât âauthenticâ?
Thereâs a LOT of aftermarket cut square cuts that have been graded by Beckett. They donât differentiate between the two unless the cutter did an awful job.
I understand the ambiguity inherent in square cut cards. Itâs embarrassing that BGS ever âauthenticatedâ them and itâs compromising to their reputation if they are still actively âgradingâ them today.
I donât understand the logic of knowingly buying something deemed to be essentially counterfeit in order to send it in for authentication unless the OP didnât mention that he believed they were inauthentic.
Just replace âBGSâ with âPSAâ and âafter market square cutâ with âafter market 1st ed stampâ and you can see why I might be a bit concerned. I get this comparison is not 1 to 1 since square cut cards were never âofficiallyâ released so there is ambiguity even with the factory-cut copies, but this is the equivalent of buying a set of fake 1st ed stamped cards and sending them to bgs because âthey donât differentiate between the two unless the stamper did an awful jobâ
Yea I agree. PSA is all the better for not authenticating them. At the same time I know a lot of awesome people who enjoy collecting square cuts so Iâm a bit conflicted on it. I donât think itâs the same as counterfeiting. Do you think itâs kind along the same lines of the gold star dogs? Cause I think itâs really comparable to that. Somebody canât just take a regular card and square cut it like someone can fake a stamp. They authenticate it as long as it was cut from a sheet. I guess they donât care where or how.
Any time a sheet is worth less than the sum of its parts, itâs subject to getting altered. Now that sheets are catching up, thankfully youâll see fewer cut up. You have to understand, people (including most of us) are interested in money too. Itâs kinda telling that some are complaining about BGS but nobody mentioned the travesty of destroying sheets.
Thereâs a difference between enjoying a collectable and getting it authenticated. I have cards like the COLLECTOR Charizard or a Kinebuchi autograph that I really enjoy but I would be disappointed if PSA/BGS were to ever grade it because these are items that cannot really be authenticated.
Thereâs nothing wrong with enjoying square cuts for the novelty, even if they are believed to be handcut⌠but to get them authenticated despite knowing they are essentially illegitimate is disingenuous.
To each their own. This is the exact reason why I looked to get rid of them in the first place, but if someone wants to grade them then I say go for it. I prefer PSA, but I do value them for what they do grade. BGS will grade a no damage ninetales and will grade a ghost stamp pika and will grade squarecuts, so who am I to complain? This controversy is ancient in our community at this point, but as a collector I understand the squarecut market and made an educated decision to get rid of them. I expect others should do the same.
Side note, I did mention that it was likely my squarecuts were after market in my listing. As Gary said, it does not keep BGS from grading them anyway, unless the cuts are awful.
Sure, as long as the card came off a legit sheet. Some people like them so they should have the option to grade. All legit cards should have a grading option like no stage blastoise, no damage 9T and so on.
