help with Negro League/Pitts Crawfords photo
 

Hi, Guys,

I just acquired this photo and could use some help. I have seen an 8x10 version of this photo from 1934 (auction by REA), but this is a double weight 6x13.75 photo. It is clearly old, perhaps 1940s? The back is blank, but the paper seems to be of the 1940s era.

I am guessing it is a news photo, but any ideas would be appreciated. I probably overpaid for it, but, hey, a photo with Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and other legends can't be all bad!

Thanks!
Brian

Just noticed that this photo was shrunk to oblivion when posting....if anyone has a suggestion for posting what was originally a 2.2 MB file (I took a screen shot), that would be great. Alternatively, I could email scans to anyone interested....Thanks.

Hopefully this copy will be larger.

Brian:

Unfortunately, it looks like you have a fake there. These types of photos have appeared on eBay quite a bit over the past several years. Many originated out of Ohio and usually pucture one of the great NL teams of the ‘30’s, either the Pittsburgh Crawfords or Honestead Grays. If you want to send me a high res. scan, I can probably confirm for you. If so, maybe you can still get your money back if you act quickly.

It has that fuzzy look of a reproduction. An original print would be sharp.

Thanks, guys, and that is what I feared.
I thought the fuzziness might have resulted from blowing up a smaller photo.
For example, if you take a look at the original type I photo that sold at REA,

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../#&gid=1&pid=2

you will see that this REA photo is also quite fuzzy.

Unfortunately, I cannot scan the photo (I got the scan from the seller) as my scanner is not working.
I had my doubts about it but did not pay a huge amount. Still, disappointing to hear of all the fakes out there.

The REA photo isn't fuzzy to me, maybe just a little worn. If you enlarge the photo the player's faces are all very clear and crisp. That's what I look for when I'm trying to figure out if a photo is original or not.

Well, maybe 'fuzzy' was the wrong term, but the REA photo does seem a bit washed out and a little out of focus, which is why I wondered about the original negative off of which both that photo and mine were based.

In any case, whoever made the photo in question definitely used old paper, 40s-50s era based on comparisons with the many other photos I have from that period and earlier (and later). It is definitely a bit 'fuzzier' than the REA photo, without a doubt.

Another thing to look for, most of these fakes have spider veins in the upper portion of the photo background, quite visible when you hold it up to a light. Does yours have these?

Phil, it has some creasing near the top but nothing really extensive. What about those fakes explains the spider veins? Do you have any links to fakes that have been sold recently--it might help me and others for future reference.

On a side note, I may send the photo back, although it looks very nice in person--like a big baseball card with Josh Gibson, Satchel, and others. Kinda sad to send it back...

Brian:

The spider veins can be seen as creases, one and the same. Over the years when I was actively searching e-bay every day for Negro League items, I probably posted a dozen or more fakes on Net 54 as I spotted them as to avoid other Net 54 members making the mistake of buying and thinking they were legitimate. It happened to me when I first started collecting Negro League photos in 2006 and I learned my lesson the hard way. The seller disappeared from e-bay and I had to eat a $400 loss.

As far as wanting to keep the item, you should collect whatever you enjoy so if it makes you happy to have it, why not?

Original 1934 Pittsburgh Crawfords Team Photo
 

Here is a link to an original one of these team photos, currently running in Hake's Americana & Collectibles' Auction:

https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...N-BELL-JOHNSON

Negro League photo
 

I listened to a bunch of you (and my instincts) and returned this photo to the seller.
Ironically, it has now resurfaced on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-193...wAAOSws2dahd63

I guess I should alert the seller as to my concerns?

Not trying to 'out' an auction, but I don't want anyone else making a mistake.
Brian

I call that generation of Negro League repros the "Yellow Fakes" since they all have a yellowish tint to them, trying for a sepia look but not quite getting there.

I let the seller know, but listing was still up last I checked.

Looks like the seller finally took it down a couple of days ago.