Pack resealing

Guru

How can you tell if a pack has been resealed? Thx!

Griffins

I'd start with Mark Murphy's book, paying particular attention to the part on factory sealing techniques. Then read every thread you can find (especially the older ones) looking at everything with a wary eye, especially from those overhyping their recently acquired hoards. Try and get some time to chat with people like Steve Hart about some of the reseals they see. And getting on Ken M's email list doesn't hurt, as he often points out some of the obvious ones being offered on ebay and thru auction houses.
Most importantly go slow when buying- the people that have gotten burned lately are all looking for impossible deals or moving so fast to buy aggressively that it makes them ripe for getting ripped off- which they then try and peddle on unsuspecting collectors once they find out. Lastly, check the provenance whenever possible.

ReggieCleveland

What Griffins said. Murphy's book is great. I would also add to learn how things were done on the straight and narrow. Buy a box of 1988 Topps and familiarize yourself with the wax seals and roller marks. Go through those with a loupe and a black light. If you know what it should look like it will help you spot something when it looks funky.

grote15

It's a good idea to also familiarize yourself with the different sizes of gum that Topps used during the era you're collecting, as the size of the gum changed throughout the years, and resealers often substitute skinnier sticks of gum from cheaper, junk wax issues because they are not able to obtain the correct sized gum for the year in question. (Or shatter a couple of pieces of gum to try and disguise this fact.) Corner folds on the pack should be tight like little triangles on the corners and the seal on back should be smooth with no wrinkles or wrapper folds in odd places and roller marks that "line up" when titled under the light. The roller marks on back of a wax pack is akin to a pack's "fingerprint," and once broken, it is very difficult to recreate the original corner folds on a vintage wax pack.

If you're able to, I would also recommend opening a few packs for the years you're collecting, as this is the best way to inspect the inner folds of the pack for evidence and tell-tale signs that you just can't see looking at the outside of the pack.

Guru

I have a concern about a box of 87 Topps that I just purchased. Some of the packs have openings on the back where part of the card can be seen. Is this normal?

grote15

<< <i>I have a concern about a box of 87 Topps that I just purchased. Some of the packs have openings on the back where part of the card can be seen. Is this normal? >>



Yes, that is not unusual, especially for packs from that era. There were a lot of "miswraps" in the factory back then, both wax and cello, where a smnall part of the card on back would be exposed.

Guru

Thanks man. It's obvious I need to do more research before purchasing more stuff. Thanks for the suggestions.

MrDodger

I don't think anybody would spent the time to reseal a 87 tops box
that would be a real waist of time!

bigdcards

<< <i>I don't think anybody would spent the time to reseal a 87 tops box
that would be a real waist of time! >>



Would it have been worth it in '87 or '91? I think there was a shop near me that pulled most of the stars out of everything back then.

soundgard

If it were easy to spot resealing, SGC and Beckett would grade packs.