Bought this card recently. Is it real or fake?
MeanGreenZen
Posts: 4 ✭
I recently bought this raw 1968 Nolan Ryan card off EBay. Obviously, I paid less than it would cost graded, but it was still expensive.
How can I find out if the card is real or not?
If it is fake, I know that I can send it back and EBay protects me, but isn’t there some time limit on that?
I’m guessing if I send to PSA it will take a year to get back (it’s not valuable enough to pay for Express) and any consumer protection through EBay will have expired.
I’m thinking of taking it to a local card shop to get their take or sending it to a newer (and less expensive) grading service like Dallas Card Show Grading.
Anyone have any other ideas or tips?
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Comments
looks well loved! some kid in the 60’s put in in his spokes.
Id just keep it and enjoy it as it would not get a high grade. It probably is authentic as generally the fakes are only made out to look in good condition. You can submit to a grading service to just authenticate it.
I vote real.
I’m guessing real.
Yaz Master Set
#1 Gino Cappelletti master set
#1 John Hannah master set
Also collecting Andre Tippett, Patriots Greats' RCs, Dwight Evans, 1964 Venezuelan Topps, 1974 Topps Red Sox
Send it back
ETA: No way those creases are "vintage" and the cardstock is inconsistently colored (too white on the scuffed corners/edges).
I would send it back as LarkinCollector mentioned. The centering on the front of the card looks too good to be true (classic reprint sign) and the image quality seems fake to me. It could be real I guess but I doubt. I would want to know more about the sellers other cards he is selling etc...
I wouldn't call myself an expert with 68s but I have quite a few and that looks legit to me.
That creasing doesn’t look natural. That’s a red flag. When you see a card like that, try to imagine the circumstances that it would get creased in that way.
Good eye Larkincollector. I always knew my vote was worthless.
definite fake.
I don’t like the uniform way the corners are worn either and like mentioned above the centering for that card is exceptional which is difficult (not impossible) to find. My advice is never buy a raw card for more than 20 bucks or so that is older than 1970 unless you are an expert in that issue OR you have some others from that set that you KNOW are real. None of us will be able to tell you for certain if that card is real unless we have it in hand and even then we could be fooled. If you have more 68’s compare the color, look at the card stock, look at the edges under magnification and smell the cards. Seems weird but it’s hard to make a reprint smell like a card that has been sitting somewhere for 50+ years. For what it’s worth my vote would be it’s likely not real but again that’s not worth much without seeing it in person.
Jeff
Collecting:
post world war II HOF rookie
76 topps gem mint 10 commons 9 stars
Arenado purple refractors(Rockies) Red (Cardinals)
successful deals with Keevan, Grote15, 1954, mbogoman
post the eBay auction link
it’s real imo I can see the 4 color off registration and it has hickeys / they only happen in the printing process when a chunk of ink builds up on the plate. What ever color you don’t see is where the chunk is. Nolan’s hat is missing cyan. The link would help to see what else they are selling. That can show a real red flag.
Not worthless, just indicative of how convincing some fakes can be. I fell for one and kept it at eye level on my desk for two years to remind myself to be wary of "great deals" ...
_post the eBay auction link
it’s real imo I can see the 4 color off registration and it has hickeys / they only happen in the printing process when a chunk of ink builds up on the plate. What ever color you don’t see is where the chunk is. Nolan’s hat is missing cyan. The link would help to see what else they are selling. That can show a real red flag_
Agree with all this. Lets see the listing and if it is an experienced card seller or a newby who "just found this in an attic and has to list as a reprint per ebays policy"
Zero wear on the creases, nuff said.
Original listing below. Thank you for your help.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184700903953
Sorry, looked at wrong listing...
Well I would say if it is fake, at the least, the seller isn't in on it!
I will say that the holes in the letters and numbers look smaller than this pwcc image
could be a senational milton badley. 🥁
(2 internet points awarded for getting either of those jokes)
Fake. Just looking at it something doesn't seem right.
Seller looks good. Send it in and 6 months from now we will know what psa says. I still like it.
2 things that strike me funny:
the creases. funny how ryan's side for the most part is nice and clean. almost as if they intentionally destroyed koos'.
the burlap pattern on the back. and why is it full? have seen my fair share of 68 ryans. never seen that. it's as almost like the ink couldn't dry fast enough when they were being spit outta the hp150whz.
not saying it is or it isn't. a card like that would STILL go in my bike spokes though. rather have the nostalgia there than that on display.
For sure it is not a milton bradley. They are much brighter on back.
One of the oldest trick to selling a fake that is worth $1000+ is to make it look abused by rounding corners and adding creases. Less people have their warning cap on for a $25 card. From the creases it looks like a thicker card stock. Reprints are usually thinner. The stain on card could be real as it also has a small portion at the very bottom. Who would think to do that? I am assuming all defects would be done at the same time.
The "bleed thru" square matrix seen in the white on the back is a question for me. Would the original print on real card be printed with the border design on whole card? The the picture added later.
As stated the smell of the card can tell you everything. But again ryan cards have been reprinted/faked for a long time.
Here are my two Ryans
1948-76 Topps FB Sets
FB & BB HOF Player sets
1948-1993 NY Yankee Team Sets
Real.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
>
i can assure you that suggesting that it was an actual milton bradley was not to be taken seriously. if you notate my spelling, i called it a "milton BADley". and just for kicks, the "senational" comment was that the ryan rc is actually an uncorrected error card, should anyone happen to actually read the back. but if this is an opportunity to show off actual milton bradley's, i'll take it:
or maybe it's a venezuelan? 😉
and for informational purposes, i find an easier hint to whether a ryan is an mb or not is the tad bit of white along koosmans border. time, light and wear can effect cards appearances, as can be seen in my two examples. even the backs. but this little white line appears on an overwhelmingly majority of the ryan miltons:
Fake
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
Blurryface
I was not smart enough to pick up on that
Have to say those MB Ryans are awesome.
He was my Fav player and I don't have one. Nice !!!!
1948-76 Topps FB Sets
FB & BB HOF Player sets
1948-1993 NY Yankee Team Sets
Here are two PSA-graded copies with the burlap pattern. And there are more on eBay. I think this is the real deal.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-Nolan-Ryan-PSA-8-ROOKIE/363324847382?hash=item5497d93516:g:~wQAAOSwcOBgURCo
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-Nolan-Ryan-ROOKIE-RC-177-PSA-6-EXMT/384023998322?hash=item59699d2f72:g:PFIAAOSwHWJgTkPO
i'm wondering now if it's the actual paper stock that just coincidentally happens to look like the burlap front. after all, the burlap isn't on the full front, so a wet ink transfer theoretically shouldn't be possible, right?
and if that's the case, then i would tend to lean towards being real...
side note: not sure if anyone laughs at the "investacard" dude on various social media outlets, but he has an eerily familiar resemblance to koosman.
Serious question - does it smell right?
I think the card is real. The corner wear is not consistent with artificially aged cards. I’d be interested to see the submitted to PSA or SGC to see if it is the real deal or not. The consensus seems to be pretty split down the middle. Which is rare I would say.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
There are definite red flags but I’m wavering. I’d need to have it in hand to be sure.
I didn't say
I think real
1948-76 Topps FB Sets
FB & BB HOF Player sets
1948-1993 NY Yankee Team Sets
I have a similar card that I am sending in. For mine, I compared the texture, weight, and color to other 1968 Topps cards that I have and it seems to be real.
Thank you for the feedback everyone.
I sent the pictures of the card to a guy who owns one of the new grading services and he said it was a fake. And I physically took the card to the owner of one of the best card shops in Dallas and he said it was real.
LOL. I’m torn on what to do. Keep it and display it, send it to SGC (which seems to have the best turnaround times right now) or return to seller on EBay. I paid about $300 for it.
Wait, you paid $300 for "it" and 176 other Nolan Ryan cards..... So, are the 176 other cards worthless? Can I have them?
I vote fake as well. Color and registration look off to me.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
It’s real dude, send it to beckett and if it comes back fake I’ll cover your grading / shipping fees. PayPal it to you.
Real.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
I want in on this too. I think it's real, and would be willing to throw you a $100 to help cover your loss since you'll be well beyond the eBay return period by the time it gets back from grading.
There are definitely some trustworthy and awesome members on board, that’s for sure.
Thank you for the offers and opinions on the card.
Of course I can’t accept, but I am going to send the card in for grading and will let everyone know how it turns out.
I took it to a second card shop and this dealer also said it is real.
If the grade comes back fake, I will consider it a hard-learned lesson. But I am feeling good about it.
This is the type of question to ask before you buy the card.
If in doubt, send it back for refund and buy a low grade slabbed one. After sending it in, you'll have over $400 and 6 months into it.