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1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle

Cubs winCubs win Posts: 9 ✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Hello , I'm new this forum and just have a question for those vintage experts .... I was looking to purchase a 54' Bowman from a guy here locally it's in great condition it's non-graded... so my question is does anyone have any advice what to look for as far as real/authentic vs. Reprint /fake



Thanks

Comments

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Cubs win

    Hello , I'm new this forum and just have a question for those vintage experts .... I was looking to purchase a 54' Bowman from a guy here locally it's in great condition it's non-graded... so my question is does anyone have any advice what to look for as far as real/authentic vs. Reprint /fake



    Thanks




    Hiya Cubs win - don't know your first name.



    Welcome!



    I've been collecting for 30 yrs. and you've asked a really tough question.



    One way to start?



    Buy an inexpensive 54B card to use as an exemplar.



    I don't collect them so I don't know much about the issue.



    Check a real one - try going to a shop near you for a nice common card.



    It has the sig on the bottom.



    I'm willing to bet that the ink is solid - added in black during the multi-color offset printing.



    If the card is a cheesy reprint/fake - I'm willing to bet - if you look with a 5 or 10X mag. that the sig will turn to small print dots instead of solid black lines.



    Compare the stock used - it's hard to reproduce paper that was made in 1954 - look at the thickness - again - a possible giveaway. Tho some guy reprinted the 85T McGwire rookies so nice that it fooled a lot of experts.



    How much does the guy want and what's the condition - if it's too cheap - then it's a good possibility that it may be fake.



    Ask for scan and post it here.



    I'm hoping we have a 54B collector here - that would help immensely.



    In conclusion - I recommend you not just jump in and be pressured to buy a card that may be worthless?

    Mike
  • Cubs winCubs win Posts: 9 ✭
    I'm Wayne by the way



    Thanks I've collected for a while also but recently started to purchase the cards I wanted in the past that where just out of my price range as a kid in the 80's and 90's...

    I see a lot of 54 reprints on eBay and that scares me and was just wondering if there are tell points like the 86 fleer jordan



    The dots with magnification is great thanks for your response
  • travis ttravis t Posts: 1,185 ✭✭✭
    Several eBay dealers have become reprint specialists. If you notice a bunch of listings of high profile raw cards that look too awesome to be real, there you go. As for 54B, and 55B as well, I look at the backs, if possible, to see how much of the typical horizontal stress rippling is visible, as well as miscuts and stains. Some indicators of legit cards which are difficult to reproduce on a fake which will help you decide if a dealer's stuff is worth a closer look.
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If possible, you could do what some have done in the past. If you could make the completed sale conditional, based on your submitting the card for grading. And you/seller agree to the term that you would only pay the agreed upon price if the card in question passes the grading test for authenticity/not altered etc. Who pays for the grading fee would have to be determined by the both of you. Good luck.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • craig44craig44 Posts: 11,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would also do some homework on how to spot trimmed cards. It is a real problem with raw vintage.

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭
    You could always send the card in to be graded before you buy it, with the stipulation that you'll pay the agreed on price as long as it gets a number grade (not any particular number). That's assuming that you know the local guy well enough to make that deal.
    bobsbbcards PSA Registry Sets
    bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
  • ugaskidawgugaskidawg Posts: 882 ✭✭✭
    Good info here
  • Cubs winCubs win Posts: 9 ✭
    I agree .... thanks for all the great advice . It really scares me when I see fakes for sale on ebay that look so real
  • BrickBrick Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi, hello, how are ya? image
    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,655 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ugaskidawg
    Good info here



    I agree, all of the above is what led me to graded cards.

    I do miss the thrill of collecting raw cards but as my budget increased I just couldn't risk it.
    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
  • MantleMarisFordBerraMantleMarisFordBerra Posts: 1,706 ✭✭✭
    Welcome to the boards. With a local buyer you should get to see/hold the car in person before buying right? Great advice upthread - taking a 54B common with you to compare & measure against is STRONG advice - do it! Also...this might sound weird...smell it. If it's a newer repeat, you'll likely notice a very different smell than the scent of older cardboard. I know, weird right?

    Bottom line this is a very attractive card for reprints/counterfits/scam artists so be careful!
  • Cubs winCubs win Posts: 9 ✭
    After seeing and feeling and smelling the card it just didn't seem/feel right ..... after I passed on the Mantle he went in the back room and came out with a 55T Koufax in gem mint condition and others HOF rookies ! Either this guy is setting on the best collection in history or selling fake/reprints .... I want to thank all that helped me with advice it's nice to be apart of a board with all this knowledge



    Thanks Wayne
  • MantleMarisFordBerraMantleMarisFordBerra Posts: 1,706 ✭✭✭
    Glad things worked out for you. Pulling out a mint Koufax RC huh? You shoulda offered to buy it with monopoly money - they're both worth the same amount!
  • Mickey MaysMickey Mays Posts: 289 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: bobsbbcards

    You could always send the card in to be graded before you buy it, with the stipulation that you'll pay the agreed on price as long as it gets a number grade (not any particular number). That's assuming that you know the local guy well enough to make that deal.






    This is what I would do, reprints are so good only the graders can tell the difference. Can't go wrong with a PSA graded card

  • bobmoatbobmoat Posts: 257 ✭✭
    Hi Wayne



    Since you don't know, don't try!



    Buy one that is already graded.



    Bob
  • thebaseballcardkidthebaseballcardkid Posts: 432 ✭
    Originally posted by: Cubs win
    Hello , I'm new this forum and just have a question for those vintage experts .... I was looking to purchase a 54' Bowman from a guy here locally it's in great condition it's non-graded... so my question is does anyone have any advice what to look for as far as real/authentic vs. Reprint /fake

    Thanks


    Welcome. That's a big major card to start out with if you're entering the vintage market that you don't know much. I would start with something smaller or you're doing the right thing in asking first. Beware. Lots of scams in this hobby and a lot with Mickey. Even here there are a few scammers posting or selling. Good luck and go Cubbies!
    Can you cost a phone picture of the card?
  • Cubs winCubs win Posts: 9 ✭
    I'll try and get a picture .... Yeah the 54B was a good deal just not familiar with that year with all the great looking reprints of that year . Been working on 67T for years and got a little bored chasing those .... So I checked out the 54B Mantle .... Go Cubs go
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