Exhibits Question

Tedw9

I read that some of the Exhibit cards were reprinted. Is there any way to tell them apart? I just purchased Mays, Hodges and Reese and am wondering about the Mays card.

Any help is much appreciated!

grayroads

Yes, the exhibits have been reprinted. That's the easy part. I've been trying to determine exactly what separates the original from the reprint for "Baseball's Great/Hall of Fame, 1948 and 1974. Beckett is of little help; he uses the color of the card stock (very white for 1974) as the factor. Yet age darkens paper.
Others have suggested ink tone and lines; unfortunately there is nothing that I would bet on. So I keep digging. Keep in touch, maybe we can help each other out.
Bob

TWOHOOKS

The only exhibit cards that have not been reprinted are the 1962 & 1963 stat. backs.Must be too costly to print on both sides.Anyway I have bought and sold hundreds of exhibit cards on E-Bay (morgan118).I have new exhibits listed every week and will have PSA include them in the registry.That should be about 4 weeks away.They are great cards,unfotunately like everything else there are many ripoffs as well.1939 salutations as well as 1947 & 1948 HOF exhibit cards should have a sepia tone type back.This is the easiest way to tell a reprint.The reprint will have a white or dark gray back.Also the front picture will be exceedingly grainy on a reprint.Believe me as I talk from experience,the reprints are everywhere.I got stuck with 3 more off E-Bay last week.Also beware of trimming as with all raw cards available now.Although for some reason I have found it less prevalent with the Exhibit cards than your typical vintage Topps card.The safest way to buy them raw is a reputable dealer or someone on E-Bay that has a high feedback/ powerseller and a good return policy.Again the reprints are everywhere so watchout.

grayroads

Michael, You seem well "educated" about these cards. Are the fronts (i.e. lines beneath the photo) of the 1974 Baseball Great Hall of Fame cards the same as the originals from 1948?
Thanks, Bob

TWOHOOKS

I'm not sure about that but I recieved about 4 months ago a whole set of reprints of the HOF cards.The differences between this set and the real cards are striking.If you saw them in person it would be obvious that these were reprints.The white background on the front of the card is so white that you would know they were definitely from cards printed in the 70's or 80's as compared to the creamy white background on the ones from 1948.Unfortunately I believe these are legitimate reprints whose differences are striking so the buyer knows obviously there are not originals,there are others out there of this same set that are not so different.These I believe are intended to be passed off as originals.

All I can recommend is be very careful buying these cards on E-Bay.I would say 1 out of 3 sellers either doesn't know the difference or is trying to rip someone off.If you are going to take a chance try buying from someone that seems to be listing a few a week if that's possible and wait till you get the first one in to see if it's legit.Another way to handle it is only bid a limited amount on a card that way if it is a fake you haven't lost much.Guess how I learned most of my knowledge on these cards.The hard way.However you can hit some home runs as well.Good luck.

grayroads

Michael, Thank you for the detailed reply. It looks like "experience" will have to be my teacher. Seeing the various editions in person seems like the only way to go. Regards, Bob

Tedw9

Bob and Michael,

Thank you for the replies and the information. I just picked up a Ted Williams last week that seems to be original. The Mays, Hodges and Reese have yet to arrive, but I will give them a close look upon arrival. I only have about $10 invested in all four, so even if they are reprints, I'm not out much.

smtjoy

Have over 500 exhibits (Salutations, 1947-66, 62 stat back and 63 stat back), working on a few sets. Agree with Michael in that I have never seen any fake 62 or 63 stat back ones. For me the easiest way to tell is the card stock color. I usualy send the ebay seller this question when buying any "what is the color of the card backs, white, tan/creamish or dark gray?" The tan/creamish are the real ones but lots have the others for sale on ebay because they dont know the difference. The gray ones always seem to be in NM shape. I also find that the fakes ones seem to only be about 10 cards- mantle, williams, berra, newcome, reese, ford, ashburn, etc.

I have gotten a few trimmed ones.

Sorry dont have much info on the "Baseball's Great/Hall of Fame, 1948 and 1974.

Tedw9

I got my cards in todays mail. All three have white backs. Is it safe to assume that all three are reprints?