1957 Topps Bill Russell RC reprints
thehallmark
Posts: 1,332 ✭✭✭
I might be hunting for a nicer low grade copy of this card at The National. I've searched but could not find any guidance so hoping for some help here...
How can one identify original vs reprint? I'm looking for actual comparable traits of the cards please, not simply "buy one that is authenticated".
0
Comments
The Bill Russell rookie is such a rare card and basically the Mickey Mantle 52 Topps of Basketball. The point, if you have that card you are going to get it slabbed no matter what the condition is. I would question just about any raw version of that card as most are reprints and the ones that are not are potentially trimmed. There are legit ones out there but at this point, I would guess that they are as rare as getting a legit untampered vintage pack on eBay.
Buy one graded. Way too risky to purchase one raw. You might save some money on a raw purchase but then again you might..........
Yep, thanks. What are the differences between the original and the reprints?
Generally, the texture of the card quite different. The colors are almost always off as well. It's rather easy to tell when you have another 1957 card to compare it with in hand. It's much more difficult to tell when you are just looking at an eBay image which is why so many fake packs and high-end vintage reprints exist on eBay.
One word of caution. Do not think it is any safer buying a raw card like that at a card show (even the national). Many of those are trimmed as well sometimes by the very people trying to sell the card. When PSA rejects a card like that due to trimming they often surface at card shows as the trimmers can unload them without any paper trail.