Recolored 1971 Topps cards ?

BaltimoreYankee

I've recently been buying lots of 1971 Topps cards on eBay. Just received a lot of 148, described as NM/MT and at first blush, they're the best lot I've received so far. Many of them almost look too good to be true and when I look at stacks of them along the edges, there are a few ( 4 or 5) that show some black. This leads me to suspect the whole lot. The fronts of the cards look very uniform and I can't see people doctoring a Ron Herbel (or whoever card) but stranger things have happened.

I once bought a black light for use on 1971 cards but it was cheap and I couldn't really tell anything.

Any advice on what to look for or advice on any particular black lights?

evilpenny

for recoloring, the tell tale is usually on the edges if you hold it "thin" ways. (if ya get what I'm saying). it's really hard for folks to recolor the black chips on the edges and not get any on the sides (which should still look like cardboard).

gemint

It's easy for me to spot recolors. Use a loupe, hold them up in the light viewing the corners from the front of the card. If they are recolored, they will look a bit fuzzy and will have a dull black finish rather than glossy black from the original production. I've submitted well over a thousand '71s over the years and only missed 1 recolor out of all that time and it was just because I was sloppy in my inspection prior to submitting.

lahmejoon

I'd be curious about any special lighting as well. In the set I just reviewed, there were a few cards whose corners didn't quite look right, but there was no evidence of black bleeding into the thin of the border.

Stone193

Though this photo is exaggerated, tilting the card under the light should show the difference in the card ink vs the magic marker that was probably used?

evilpenny

Side Note: What year did the card stock change that now makes cards glow under a black light? that was my method for determining high grade fakes of the 51b and 52/53t. I think it was mid 60's maybe, but I could be wrong.

BaltimoreYankee

Thanks for the replies. This forum is rally good for stuff like this.

Upon closer inspection, there are 9 cards in the lot that don't look right. All are commons except Mickey Lolich, which is hardly a premium card. The black appears on the edges (not corners) on all but one of them.

seebelow

Just tilted vs the light has worked for me.
Even if it's a common I wouldn't put it past someone. In their mind 5 bucks better than nothing.

Stone193

<< <i>Side Note: What year did the card stock change that now makes cards glow under a black light? that was my method for determining high grade fakes of the 51b and 52/53t. I think it was mid 60's maybe, but I could be wrong. >>

My understanding is that in the late 40s, paper manufacturers started putting photo brighteners in white stock - this was also put in fabrics e.g.

The result is that paper with brighteners will fluoresce under a black light.

Here's an example with tobacco packs I have. Note how the paper on the right doesn't "glow" - fluoresce under the black light.

evilpenny

Mike,

Im sure youre right to an extent, but I know 51bowman and 52topps do not "glow" under the blacklight. well technically, they do a very tad however the cards from the mid 60's and on GLOW almost as vibrant as those cypress hill and pink floyd posters from college.

Stone193

<< <i>Mike,

Im sure youre right to an extent, but I know 51bowman and 52topps do not "glow" under the blacklight. well technically, they do a very tad however the cards from the mid 60's and on GLOW almost as vibrant as those cypress hill and pink floyd posters from college. >>

Keep in mind, what I'm saying is just a "guideline" and not gospel.

I just checked a 51B against white paper and it didn't fluoresce IMO - so - yes - there are exceptions to the generalization.

If you'd like a good source (if you haven't seen it), I recommend David Cycleback's Web for good info on authentication and printing etc.

evilpenny

Oh I know. I was just speaking in generalizations as well, sorry if it came out as if I was preaching the gospel.

Will definitely check out the authentication of printing link as I hadn't seen it. Thanks!