Pack Authenticity, What to look for............

tennesseebanker

I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread where everyone could share thier knowledge of Pack authenticity.
I know there are some here that know more about the subject than others, and others like myself that know some but not a lot, about what to look for on packs to question if they have been re-sealed or tampered with. This would be a good reference point and knowledge base for others in the hobby.
I thought we could invite in certain experts like Steve Hart or Mark Murphy to give us some pointers.

lawnmowerman

T-bank,
Heres that paper I was telling you about. Someone from cu shared this with me when I first joined

tennesseebanker

Good Stuff ! Keep it going guys !

SoFLPhillyFan

BBCKid Guide to Unopened Packs

tennesseebanker

I found some decent info doing a search............

WAX PACKS

Finding a phony wax pack is often very easy. Ask the dealer to take one out of the box and hold it up so you can see its sides and its back seal. The sides (top and bottom) should have folds that form triangles. This is the most obvious test. If the fold is crinkled and not forming a nice triangle, it is likely not legitimate.

The back should have a seal that closes most, but not all of the way, across the back flaps (about 90-95% of the way across the flaps). Also, the top and bottom paper of the back of the pack should be neatly tucked under the sealed flaps. If the flaps are entirely sealed flat, that could indicate opening and resealing. If the tops and bottoms are not neatly tucked, it could mean that the pack is unopened but the paper was peeled back so the back card was searched.

CELLO PACKS

Because of their flimsy wrappers, it is tougher to fake one of these. Packs made in 1980 and before (1979 for football) always have tight seals, often bending down the corners of the top card. The side folds here should also form triangles. Here, it is okay if there seals go all the way across.

RACK PACKS

The main problem here are packs that are not opened, but thumbed through. Because the pockets of these packs are loosely holding the cards, they can be shifted to reveal middle cards, where people can read the names and/or card numbers on the top back. (Especially a problem for 1980 and 1985 baseball and 1981 and 1984 football). A reckless searcher may leave nail marks on the cards, leaving a wrinkly appearance to the wrapper. However, if it is done smoothly, it may be impossible to see. Therefore, these may be riskier than wax or cello, period.

VENDING BOXES

Don't even try it! Buy a case if you have to do the vending thing. If the box lid shows no wear or tearing or creasing, it should be safer. If you gotta do it, ask to see the lid. Any damage indicates the lid may have been lifted. Inside, the cards should be tightly packed and show ridges from the cutting process.