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Autograph Baseball Question for experts

PlemdogPlemdog Posts: 8
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Hello,

I have been collecting Ruth Signed Memorabilia for a while now. I recently purchased a Babe Ruth Ball that has "masking tape" over the signature. The seller said this was preserving the signature. Is this true? What is the best way to remove it?

Thanks,

James

Comments

  • Downtown1974Downtown1974 Posts: 6,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image Holy crap James! Well first off welcome to the boards. I am no expert on signed balls but that sounds like trouble to me. An adhesive piece of tape stuck to an auto that old. No offense but I think I would have asked this before I bought it. Im sure youll find some insight on here from other members. I would like to know the answer myself. Good luck James!

    MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940

  • MoneyLAMoneyLA Posts: 1,825 ✭
    Im not an expert, but I wonder: when you lift the masking tape, will it lift the ink off or damage it? Did you buy the ball without actually seeing the signature, and on blind faith that there is a signature under the masking tape?

    I should mention that I consider "masking tape" to be opaque, similar to what is used by painters-- and not an invisible tape.

    Im really curious about this.

    I wish you the best.
    Cheers, Alan Mendelson
    www.AlanBestBuys.com
    www.VegasBestBuys.com
  • PlemdogPlemdog Posts: 8
    Basically I purchased the ball knowing the masking tape was on there. Because of this, I got an excellent deal on it. You could see the Signature under the piece of tape. Just look below. What makes this ball worth what I paid for it is that it was also a Home Run Ball from Babe Ruth's Barnstorming tour in 1932 at Merchant's Field.

    image
  • baseballfanaticbaseballfanatic Posts: 2,415 ✭✭
    I've heard of and seen clear tape used on autographs years ago as a way to "preserve" the signature, but NEVER masking tape! I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that it would be nearly impossible to remove without "lifting" the signature off...
  • PlemdogPlemdog Posts: 8
    Whats the easiest way to upload photos on the forum? I can't get any of mine to come out.
  • pomobileclkpomobileclk Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    Here's the pic

    image
    My Custom Baseball Cards

    Photos That Were Used On Baseball Cards


    image
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    It's hard to tell from the picture but I don't think that's masking tape. I think it's just yellowed cellophane tape. Do NOT try to remove it as the ink has probably adhered to the signature. If you want to try to restore it I'd go to the nearest museum and ask to speak to someone in their archival department. They can at least advise you expertly on what to do but I think that tape is there to stay.
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