Advice on possible Trimming 1 1

[Cephusdog]

I purchased this comic, Thor 148, through a reputable dealer. After looking it over I noticed it many of the edges were not close to straight and it was a lot smaller than a typical Silver age comic. It measures at most, less than 6 and 11/16" on both the top and bottom edges, about a quarter-inch smaller than most of my other Silver and early Bronze Age comics. Since I've been burned once before by a trimmed comic a lot more expensive than this one, I'm always a little skeptical. Admittedly, I'm certainly not an expert at detecting this, so I was hoping the boards could give their opinions.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Doctor Dositheus]

I'm no expert, but...

that don't look right to me.
Verdict:  Trimmed

[Axe Elf]

Here's an image of the cover I Googled:

Hard to tell at the top and bottom, but it does look like you're missing about 1/16" from the right edge.

[Cephusdog]

Thanks, guys. I don't think it is but I wanted some board opinions. It has a lot of tanning on the edges and it's pretty consistent throughout. It just is cut really small. Almost modern size and that threw me.

[Axe Elf]

On 4/23/2022 at 9:04 AM, 12:34 said:

I think that's just the cover miswrap.

Except that his copy is miswrapped in the other direction--about 1/32" to the left (can't quite see all of the "M" in "MARVEL")--and there's still and additional 1/16" missing from the right edge.  See red circled area in photos below for easy points of reference:

[buttock]

On 4/22/2022 at 4:56 PM, Cephusdog said:

I purchased this comic, Thor 148, through a reputable dealer. After looking it over I noticed it many of the edges were not close to straight and it was a lot smaller than a typical Silver age comic. It measures at most, less than 6 and 11/16" on both the top and bottom edges, about a quarter-inch smaller than most of my other Silver and early Bronze Age comics. Since I've been burned once before by a trimmed comic a lot more expensive than this one, I'm always a little skeptical. Admittedly, I'm certainly not an expert at detecting this, so I was hoping the boards could give their opinions.

Thanks, everyone!

 

It's almost certainly NOT trimmed.  There's a lot of telltale features pointing away from trimming.  

 

[theCapraAegagrus]

Inconclusive, IMO.

[Not A Clone]

I've had a couple of books that were cut that way at the factory. Pretty sure there's some examples of it in the Grading Guide.  Depending on the angle I think it can knock a perfect book to a 7.5 if I remember correctly.

[FFB]

On 4/22/2022 at 3:56 PM, Cephusdog said:

I purchased this comic, Thor 148, through a reputable dealer. After looking it over I noticed it many of the edges were not close to straight and it was a lot smaller than a typical Silver age comic. It measures at most, less than 6 and 11/16" on both the top and bottom edges, about a quarter-inch smaller than most of my other Silver and early Bronze Age comics. Since I've been burned once before by a trimmed comic a lot more expensive than this one, I'm always a little skeptical. Admittedly, I'm certainly not an expert at detecting this, so I was hoping the boards could give their opinions.

Thanks, everyone!

 

Size can be an indication but it's not conclusive.  I see a bunch of little burrs along the inner pages on the right edge.  The cover should have similar burrs that match up with the interior pages.  Do they match up?  If not (meaning the cover is smooth and straight where the inner pages have burrs), that's a strong indication of trimming.  But if they match up perfectly, then it's probably not trimmed.  

Edited May 5, 2022 by FFB

[Cephusdog]

On 5/5/2022 at 5:28 PM, FFB said:

Size can be an indication but it's not conclusive.  I see a bunch of little burrs along the inner pages on the right edge.  The cover should have similar burrs that match up with the interior pages.  Do they match up?  If not (meaning the cover is smooth and straight where the inner pages have burrs), that's a strong indication of trimming.  But if they match up perfectly, then it's probably not trimmed.  

Things appear to match up nicely, so I don't think it was trimmed, Just a bad cut. I have other silver age books in a smaller size, but this is the smallest by far. I appreciate everyone's help, as I learned quite a bit and now know what to look for in the future.

[James J Johnson]

On 4/22/2022 at 3:56 PM, Cephusdog said:

I purchased this comic, Thor 148, through a reputable dealer. After looking it over I noticed it many of the edges were not close to straight and it was a lot smaller than a typical Silver age comic. It measures at most, less than 6 and 11/16" on both the top and bottom edges, about a quarter-inch smaller than most of my other Silver and early Bronze Age comics. Since I've been burned once before by a trimmed comic a lot more expensive than this one, I'm always a little skeptical. Admittedly, I'm certainly not an expert at detecting this, so I was hoping the boards could give their opinions.

Thanks, everyone!

 

One glance is all it takes at this point. Not trimmed. No question about it. Send to CGC in complete confidence. It will not return trimmed.