T205 Cobb ?

[dougscats]

I just won this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T205-Gold-Border-36-Ty-Cobb-no-reserve-/152213760948?nma=true&si=pdhG9Bt4si9R2piyVtTiDQklNps%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Looking at it on a bigger screen, I'm now a little nervous about it being authentic.
What makes me anxious are the "age" lines throughout the back.
In my experience, these kind of lines are a product of artificial aging, and you just don't see them on real cards.

I haven't paid for said card yet and would appreciate some expert opinions before I do.
Seller does have a return policy, and I'll be looking at it under the microscope after I get it in hand to tell for sure. But I'd rather avoid the whole return-scenario if it's convincingly deemed phony.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Doug

[Jobu]

I say 100% fake. There are many fakes on eBay right now with these same types of lines on the back. The colors on the front look off and the image doesn't seem quite sharp enough either. In your shoes I would just ask him to cancel the sale now rather than risk getting hassled on a return.

[Bliggity]

I agree that it's no good. The immediate giveaway for me is the color of the cardstock you can see from the edge chipping. It should be white, not brown/grey.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

plus the gold borders have absolutely no metallic quality at all, with the level of wear on the card I'd like to see some sheen. Also the color on the front is just off in general.

[iwantitiwinit]

Unfortunately i'd agree it's a fake also. If it were real you'd see more chipping in the gold border along the point where the large crease in the lower right corner meets that border.

[vintagerookies51]

Agreed that it's fake. Anytime a card exhibits that "cracking"/ age lines like on the back of this card I stay away.

[irv]

Although I have very little experience when it comes to identifying fakes, I also thought it was but thought I'd let the others with a lot more experience chime in before I posted my opinion.

This article touches on some things to look out for.
http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/free-pre-war-baseball-card-authentication-guide/

[Rookiemonster]

Fake! And I posted a warning about this seller a few days ago . It will be interesting to now see what happens with this sale . Sorry you didn't see it
And sorry you are going through this . This might sound funny but this is one of my worst nightmares .

[Cozumeleno]

Hey Doug - as you know, I've been looking for a Cobb. I've seen this one for quite some time. The back cracking/wrinkle marks are one of the things that made me positive this was not an original.

The seller also went to great lengths to avoid discussion about it being real and 'refer to the pics' is often a bad sign on questionable cards. I know others are much more confident but I won't usually touch a raw card on eBay from someone I don't know that's over like $300 or so.

The high starting point made me wonder about this, too. Fakes that start at $9.99 give the impression they are not real. But when you start it higher like this one, I think it gives a different vibe. I am not at all saying he/she did that intentionally, but I think someone looking for a real one might be more inclined to purchase it because of the high start price.

You will be fine with the return policy. As others have stated, I recommend contacting him first and not paying to save you both some time. Sorry you got caught up in this one - you're one of my favorite people here!

[asoriano]

Fake, that crease is a dead giveaway.

[JustinD]

Yes, Unfortunately a fake.

Those dark crackle lines form from artificially aging the card.

[asoriano]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T205-Ed-Walsh-/361697824039?hash=item5436decd27:g:JRgAAOSwaB5XugM c

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T205-Ed-Walsh-/361697824039?hash=item5436decd27:g:JRgAAOSwaB5XugM c

yeah but he is selling it as a reprint. You could argue whether it's a reprint or a counterfeit, but he's being absolutely transparent that it's not original.

[GasHouseGang]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T205-Ed-Walsh-/361697824039?hash=item5436decd27:g:JRgAAOSwaB5XugM c

His uncle had a "reprint collection"? Now that's funny.:rolleyes:

[asoriano]

yeah but he is selling it as a reprint. You could argue whether it's a reprint or a counterfeit, but he's being absolutely transparent that it's not original.

I was simply using this as an example showing that the back "aging" is similar.

-TE

[EvilKing00]

Imo very fake, the front looks way off, cobbs face dosnt have the detale and borders are off to. Didnt look at back.

[edjs]

It has a 14 day return policy, listed as original and 105 years old in the description. Just return it.

[Wite3]

Fake, the back lines are off as is the color of the printing (at least on my computer it has a bluer tinge than it should), the chipping is wrong and the color on the front is washed out in a way that happens to reprints when artificially aged. Sorry.

[dougscats]

I've asked him to cancel the order.
I'll let you know what happens.

[EvilKing00]

I've asked him to cancel the order.
I'll let you know what happens.

U said u havent paied yet. Dont. If he gives u a hard time tell him its a fake and you will report him to emay for saying its from 1911.

[dougscats]

Seller has cancelled the sale.

I thank you all for your input.

I feel very stupid--Dustin, unwittingly, I'd even read your thread!--

One lesson: I won't bid using my lap-top anymore. As soon as I saw the larger scan on my desk-top, that showed those "age" lines, I knew I was in trouble.

[Rookiemonster]

Happy to it worked out for you . This guy needs to take down all these cards before someone really gets screwed. Well atleast you didn't get burned by this scumbag. We all step in shit sometimes.

[Scocs]

I don't want to say I told you so, but if you want to be add a high-caliber card to your collection, make sure it's professionally graded.....

[nsaddict]

Sent him an email a couple days ago mentioning it was fake....but no response.

[Leon]

Seller has cancelled the sale.

I thank you all for your input.

I feel very stupid--Dustin, unwittingly, I'd even read your thread!--

One lesson: I won't bid using my lap-top anymore. As soon as I saw the larger scan on my desk-top, that showed those "age" lines, I knew I was in trouble.

Those aged lines are so common and they are almost always fake when present. Glad it worked out.