1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle - Fake?
chas707
Posts: 18 ✭
I recently obtained this card that came from an estate sale. The question I have is how do I semi-check to make sure this is not a fake? I researched this card for days and cannot see anything that looks familiar. If this is a fake, why would someone make it this bad? Any help would be appreciated. 
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Comments
My gut thinks it’s real…given the aging appearance. JMHO
I would have PSA grade it…probably would grade PSA authentic or PSA-1. If so…nice pickup.
I see a couple things that make me think it is fake. It is nearly perfectly centered. Most are not. The corner wear is almost exactly the same on all four corners. Usually a card with that much wear will have creases. I don't see any.
I agree with jfkheat… I have no experience with the card or year, but someone in this forum years ago pointed out that corners never wear evenly. That and the fact that they are almost perfectly rounded has me leaning towards it being a fake.
Jim
This is fake. Symmetrical corner rounding and uniform surface and edge wear/discoloration are the give aways.
100% fake, not even close. Artificial aging, wrong cardstock, bad colors, artificial corner wear, etc.
thanks for all the comments and I understand them. My question is why would someone fake a card this bad as well as I searched and searched and could not find one like this. tks, I'll just hang on to it for now
also, i did find this one on ebay rounded corners and centered?
I would send it to PSA…
They would fake it that bad so someone will buy it thinking it's real because it's in such bad shape.
I agree with above but also Mantl's face is relatively clear. All around the exterior is coloring.
My other question is what others were with it?
1948-76 Topps FB Sets
FB & BB HOF Player sets
1948-1993 NY Yankee Team Sets
I agree. If it's fake they won't charge you because they won't grade it, and if it's real then you get a sweet graded card.
They still charge you if the card is not authentic.
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.
FAKE
Going with fake as well. That's my initial reaction to those rounded corners. It just seems too obvious.
Hey folks did you look at the PSA graded card I uploaded? Seem rounded corners that are similar can still be a real card. This card came from an estate auction. I'll probably bite the bullet and send it in just to see, Thanks for all the comments, appreciated.
If you can afford it, I'd send it in to be graded by PSA or SGC. It's the only way to know for sure. If its real, I'm guessing it was trimmed - those rounded corners are too neat. It will come back "authentic" like the PSA example shown. Peace of mind and the best route if you ever want to sell it.
It would be worth the gamble to send it to SGC for grading at $24 plus shipping.
Without having it in hand, it can be tough to tell whether it is a counterfeit from photos (unless it is blatantly obvious). The print quality on your example does not scream fake to me right away. Even corner wear and nice centering does not immediately mean fake either, and card stock can look different than usual in a photo or if a card was stored incorrectly and/or around moisture. Typically with counterfeit issues of this card, the card stock under the corner and edge wear appears brighter - this example is not showing that in the photos, but it would be obvious in person if you know what you're looking for.
I've seen some perfectly legit examples get called "fake" on the forums over the years, and some blatant counterfeits get called "real", so you never know what level of expertise the person has replying on the forums.
Good to know.
This right here. I think it's fake judging by what others have pointed out and I feel the color looks unnatural on his face. But if it's eating at you go ahead and drop a few bucks and know for sure. Best of luck and post your results should you send it in.
I would almost guess that the one in the PSA slab is fake as well. Possibly a fake slab or a switched card.
Also, I get your point with the rounded corners, but if you look at the difference, your card has full color on the face and hat. There is zero chance that a card has that much wear on the rest of the card but none in that area. The card is fake and the fact that it was in an "estate auction" doesn't exactly help it. There's tons of that stuff that is thrown in there to suck in unsuspecting buyers.
How can I tell if the PSA slab is fake?
The PSA slab in question is NOT fake - nor is the card within it. https://www.psacard.com/cert/63798656
But, there are a few easy ways to spot counterfeit slabs via a scan or photo - most of which have to do with the font used on the labels. A lot of older counterfeits used fonts that did not match any PSA label style and are instant tells that the slab is not good. It is very difficult for someone to "swap" a card into a legit holder without evidence showing on the sides of the holder. And swapping a card into one of PSA's newer holders is virtually impossible with its new design, so the majority of swapped cards appear in the older holder styles.
Thanks for the clarification, good to know
I would keep your hopes on the absolute extreme low end.
If I were buying, what I would see, is within the dirty wear on the front edges I see too much bright white within the muck where possible artificial wear was 'missed' being added.
The back wear along the edges and corners where I see what looks like a 'layered look' where the back layer is worn further than the front paper stock, and the 'stain' is adhered to the back layer showing as thin dark line of 'coffee color' while the front layer(back of front layer) is free from that color.
Compared to a similarly worn 1952 authentic Bowman Mantle:
Also, as pointed out, there is such extreme wear to edges and corners, but the front of the card remains remarkably preserved.
If you compare your card and its accelerated wear:
To another legit card that sustained similar wear to edges and corners:
The legit card is a true worn out card while your card appears to have had the edges and corners have wear added.
I say appears as one never knows based on pictures. But if I were buying, that is what I would see.
Good advice given on sending to SGC for $24(plus two way shipping), then you will know for sure.
Or buy a few cheap worn 1952 bowman commons and feel for difference in stock and color etc....
great reply - i will send it into SGC so I can alleviate my concerns
Save your money. That card isn't real.
It looks the card was scissor cut back in the day. I think it’s real. Only thing that makes question is the color. Not sure if that’s your scan or not
OK, I'm biting the bullet and sent the card to SGC. I will advise when I get it back.
Cool. SGC is pretty fast - my last 3 orders have turned in about two weeks, door to door. Looking forward to seeing the verdict!
Terrible tea stained fake
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
Curious to know how this will turn out
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Interesting...how did you do on your last three SGC orders? Inquiring minds want to know!
Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
lol...nothing too crazy impressive or valuable. Mostly mid-grade vintage Cubs and Bears for my PC. Working on some 1950's Cubs sets. I posted a few pics over on the monthy "show us your new pick ups" threads.
Best of luck. Did you get it for a good deal or did you have some competition?
Well the verdict is in and the Mickey Mantle is a fake. Oh well I fell for the came from an estate auction. Good thing is it only cost me $40
I appreciate all the help tks charley
Sorry to hear that. Always a bummer when that type thing happens.
Wait, I thought you purchased it from an estate auction? More like came from the perp's basement!
That's too bad! Live and learn. Sometimes the gambles work out and sometimes they don't. It's just part of it.
I wouldn't sweat it. I have blown $40 on a lot dumber stuff. Just think, if it had turned out to be real, that 40 dollars would have been legendary.
I was too late to the party. I was thinking fake due to the copyright logo next to the 1952 as well as some of the markers already pointed out. Clear. clean picture, evenly rounded corners and not the hint of a bend or crease.
Mark
These corners were probably cut with scissors at some point. That doesn't make it fake. People used to do strange stuff to cards.