Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Authenticity of vintage cards

forester7forester7 Posts: 71 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Hello;

I am new to collecting vintage cards and I am concerned about how to tell if a vintage card is real or a reprint. I wasn’t very concerned until recently when I saw an old card on ebay that looked authentic in every way but was listed as a reprint. In fact, the seller even described the card as looking feeling and smelling old, but acknowledged it was a reprint. My question is… how can you tell!? Since then I have seen a couple other cards that looked old, but were being sold as reprints. It has now got me wondering about the cards I have already bought. Is buying a graded card the only way to know if it is an original? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Matt

Comments

  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    Tons of fakes are out there. But there are far more altered but original cards out there - some in holders - than fakes.......trimmed, power erased, recolored, etc. Usually, only the highest dollar cards have been reproduced.



    Ron
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    PSA-graded cards take the worry out of a purchase
    made by a novice collector.

    As time passes, new collectors gain knowledge
    about real/fake items. Handling LOTS of cards
    is the best way to learn.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • clydecoolidgeclydecoolidge Posts: 863 ✭
    I agree, buying graded (by a reputable grading company) is the best way to insure that the card is real and unaltered. That's not saying that the grading companies don't make mistakes, but your odds are good that it is a legit card. As far as the "how do you tell" question on a raw card goes, it really comes down to reasearch and knowledge of vintage cards. For one, normally only high value cards are attempted to be sold as real, when they are reprints, so it is pretty easy to find info on what to look for on a reprint of say, a '52 Mantle. As far as trimmed or altered cards go, I'm still learning how to spot those. It's a hard thing to recognize sometimes, but there are also research tools (such as these boards) out there to find out what to look for if a card has been altered. Until you are well skilled and comfortable with vintage cards, I would go the graded card route. Good luck!!!

    And there are many skilled and friendly folks on these boards that would have no problem giving their opinions on a card if you post a scan.
    "I've never been able to properly explain myself in this climate" -Raul Duke

    ebay i.d. clydecoolidge - Lots of vintage stars and HOFers, raw, condition fully disclosed.
  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭
    '52 Topps Mantle from someone who isn't a dealer? FAKE.

    '84 Topps Steve Balboni on Ebay? It had better be real or we're all screwed. image
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi Matt

    I've been collecting for quite a few years and fakes still scare me - newer laser prints can be very persuading. There was a fake 55T set presented at one of the Nationals years back that surprised the crap out of some really experienced dealers!

    One site which is a favorite of mine as a reference is that of Cycleback.

    A nice publication that is somewhat helpful is that of Bob Lemke - there's two editions - the Sportscard Counterfeit Detector.

    image

    If you check any online used books, you can probably pick the two of them up pretty cheap.

    This is just a start - I learn by reading here everyday - so good luck and for the most part, if it looks like it's too good of deal? It's possible it's a fake.

    mike
    Mike
  • jrinckjrinck Posts: 1,321 ✭✭


    << <i>

    A nice publication that is somewhat helpful is that of Bob Lemke - there's two editions - the Sportscard Counterfeit Detector.

    >>



    There's one on Ebay right now, but since it was published in 1992 it will be woefully out of date with regards to new, better, and cheaper technology.

    Could still be an interesting read, though.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    A nice publication that is somewhat helpful is that of Bob Lemke - there's two editions - the Sportscard Counterfeit Detector.

    >>



    There's one on Ebay right now, but since it was published in 1992 it will be woefully out of date with regards to new, better, and cheaper technology.

    Could still be an interesting read, though. >>

    Very much so since there's still alot of the crap made in the early 90s around.

    Plus - the main thing is to acquaint oneself with the basics - a good 10X loupe and some simple ideas about the easier fakes to detect - the ones photoprinted on similar stock paper.

    mike
    Mike
  • bifff257bifff257 Posts: 751 ✭✭


    << <i>PSA-graded cards take the worry out of a purchase >>



    It is the only way to go on Ebay... Plus you dont have to worry about the card being "over graded"...



    I say this from experiance 2 of my first 4 purchases 2 years ago when I got "back" into the hobby were fakes on ebay...


    Good luck

Sign In or Register to comment.