how to tell a fake lemieux rc from a real one (large scans)

jimq112

Got this back from psa labeled ? auth. I can't blame them, I don't know any better either. It came from ebay, reputable seller. Anybody know enough about this card in particular to tell me if it's a good one or a fake? I don't want to resubmit it if it's not a real one, who wants to waste money? But we paid kind of a lot for it for a raw card and I'm kind of hoping it's a real one. Is this card commonly counterfeited?

Experts? Let me know what you think and more importantly why you think so. Thanks!!

ElectricPrune

I'm no OPC expert, but I'd say the back looks legit. The front looks odd though. It looks like there are tiny splits in the surface. I don't know if I've seen a card look exactly like that before. The photo looks just a bit odd too. Hopefully some of the Canadian collectors can give you a better opinion.

Knuckles

Looks good to me.

RedHeart54

It's probably real if they labeled it authentic. Why they didn't grade it is beyond me. I assume it's altered in some way but wouldn't have PSA labeled it trimmed or colored or whatever else?

EagleEyeKid

Hi Jim. Comparing it with the reprint I have, which is identical to yours and what I've been told is this. The black border lines surround the front looks jagged just from your scan as I can see from here are matrix dots. They need to be solid under a loupe, but you can see it from the scan. This applies for the penguin logo and 'V' shape half diamond. The penguin needs to be solid black under magnification. Also with the fakes, if you look at the bottom border/edge, you will see that bit of red powdery mark which is what bled thru from the back when they printed it. Most of the Lemieux fakes shows the red crap. And finally on the back, you need to look for these 5 things. 1) Right above NHLPA is suppose to be a clear TM for trademark. It should be very clear and not broken up. Also the 2 'C' for copyright just before 1985 NHLPA should be clear and the circle should be solid, and not little red matrix dot. Same applies before 1985 O-Pee-Chee. The two 'R' in the circle next the NHL and on the bottom next to the two kids holding the OPC sign should be clear with no red dots around the 'R' circle either.

One final note, if there's no rough edges for OPC, I wouldn't even continue to look closer to begin with. Hope you can get your money back. Good luck.

Bosox1976

Very, very commonly counterfeited. If fake it is a good one though.

jimq112

I know where you got the name eagle eye!

I think mine's a fake, the ebay seller hasn't answered a couple messages and already got + feedback, the time is past to file a complaint. He probably didn't know

I really appreciate all the time you took to describe the differences. I made a few scans so other lemieux buyers can see what you're talking about and maybe keep one of them from buying a reprint like mine.

Thanks again for your knowledge, I'm sad but at least I know, and I won't waste more grading money on it!

<<The black border lines surround the front looks jagged just from your scan as I can see from here are matrix dots. They need to be solid under a loupe, but you can see it from the scan.





This applies for the penguin logo and 'V' shape half diamond. The penguin needs to be solid black under magnification.








Also with the fakes, if you look at the bottom border/edge, you will see that bit of red powdery mark which is what bled thru from the back when they printed it. Most of the Lemieux fakes shows the red crap.




And finally on the back, you need to look for these 5 things. 1) Right above NHLPA is suppose to be a clear TM for trademark. It should be very clear and not broken up. Also the 2 'C' for copyright just before 1985 NHLPA should be clear and the circle should be solid, and not little red matrix dot. Same applies before 1985 O-Pee-Chee.




The two 'R' in the circle next the NHL and on the bottom next to the two kids holding the OPC sign should be clear with no red dots around the 'R' circle either.

diamondman

There are 3 or more counterfeits of the OPC Lemieux .

80sOPC

Anyone see issues with the card below? It has rough cuts, does not have the overbleed. The white areas are solid. There border under serious magnification is a bit jagged but I just scanned my PSA 8 and same thing. Looks good to me but could use a second or fifth opinion:

2015 e350 0 60

addicted2ebay

Hard to tell by the pic, I just had to return a lemiuex opc cuz it was fake.

They have some good ones you can’t tell till in hand.

The back type gives it away in hand

80sOPC

I have a high res scan of the back with none of the issues mentioned about. What should I be looking for in type?

Dougielove

I have one I'm about to send in. I had it sitting in a binder for years but now I pulled it out and I noticed on his right shoulder there's what looks like some extra ink. Would anyone have an idea what this could get? Would this drop it down a lot?

Dougielove

It's more visible to in this photo where I point to:

Dougielove

Autos4Alex

you should file a police report even if the ebay window closed

RufussCkingston

@Dougielove said:
I have one I'm about to send in. I had it sitting in a binder for years but now I pulled it out and I noticed on his right shoulder there's what looks like some extra ink. Would anyone have an idea what this could get? Would this drop it down a lot?

Just looking at the circle R and Circle C and the TM, looks super legit compared to the fakes posted above

LarkinCollector

@Autos4Alex said:
you should file a police report even if the ebay window closed

Even if the original post if 14 years old?