Any authentic Star Jordan Rookies?

ajw

Have counterfeits completely overtaken authentic Star Jordan rookies? Can you ever buy one with any confidence? Jordan Team Set

I had heard that SCD was the only grading company that could be relied on to grade Star cards. So, are their slabs trustworthy?

SCD Graded Jordan

Here's a raw copy.

Raw Jordan Rookie

I bought a legit copy when I was a kid for a few bucks. It was in rough shape and had some scratches on the top right corner. I sold it in the early 90's for a few hundred bucks when basketball cards started to explode. No regrets, but I would like to get one back someday.

Any thoughts?

koby

I had heard rumors that GAI was going to start grading Star Company Basketball cards, but I thought that was ridiculous because no legitimate grading company (PSA, SGC, GAI, Beckett) would grade Star basketball.

It looks like the rumors were correct and GAI is indeed gradings Star. Check it out:



Star Jordan GAI 9

It will be interesting to see what this does to the market.

Vincecarder

Star cards plates were used to create the counterfits. The fakes are identical to the real issues. That's why PSA stopped grading them. There are still some PSA graded Star Jordan RC's floating around with early labels but the serial numbers don't show up when you type them in the database.

NickM

Technically they weren't counterfeited. They were later reprinted by the original manufacturer (unlawfully, because he did not have the right to use the team, league, and player service marks any more). According to most observers, the later prints cannot be distinguished from the originals.

Nick

TheCARDKid

SCD was quite reputable IMO. Their authentication team consisted of Todd Crosner and Steve Taft. Crosner had a shop in Westwood for many years and was one of the leading Star dealers in the country. Taft was one of the biggest basketball card dealers out there and likewise was very knowledgable. Two of the biggest experts in the business.

Judging from auction results, there is still confidence in SCD Authentic. I wonder how GAI will fare.

wallst32

I don't think Star was ever found guilty of "reprinting" their own cards, that's all just speculation. What they did do was print new cards that were backdated to the 84-86 time period. All of a sudden these new sets were showing up that nobody had ever seen, that were supposed to be 5-6 years old. They also counterfeited certain cards from 84-85 and 85-86. I use the term counterfeit and not reprint because these freshly produced cards do not look the same as the originals. There is a difference in the surface and colors. This could be due to different paper stock being used or different plates, I don't know which. But people who are familar with the originals can usually tell pretty quickly.

Anyways, glad to see GAI grading these now with the demise of SCD.

aro13

koby - Thanks for pointing out that GAI is now grading these cards. I would be curious as to why they have now made the decision to grade them.