Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>Several years ago, Bob Lemke wrote an article about counterfeit W517s. He also wrote about counterfeit Bazookas in the same article. The counterfeit W517s may have resurfaced on ebay. Either that, or a new forger has come along. <br /><br />I'd like to ask Bob some questions about the counterfeits he saw to see if these are the same ones again, or new ones. Do any of you have his email address? Did any of you save the article he wrote in SCD years ago? Thanks.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Paul, If you're uncomfortable posting, email me a link.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Brad Green</b><p><br />Paul:<br /><br />I'd like to see these recent reprints as well. Please send me a link or post it here. Thanks!<br /><br />Brad

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>I don't have it yet. It should be arriving in a few days.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Bob C</b><p>I recently picked up over 100 Large W517's from a lady in the Midwest who said her grandfather collected them when he was a kid (I know...I know...) It was a leap of faith for each of us but it has worked out nicely.<br /><br />For background on the reprints, the borders of the fake ones often have tiny yellow or tan dots that give the borders an aged look rather than being one solid natural color. Usually, they can be seen only under a magnifying glass, just like the dots that make up the whole picture. Also, on the reprints, the tiny dots also appear in the circle where the card number is. Again, on the originals, the number is printed on a solid-color circle.<br /><br />None of the cards I purchased from her display any of these characteristics, and both SGC and PSA have graded several of them including the Ruth and Gehrig.<br /><br />Hope it helps.<br />

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>A favorite issue of mine... Bob, lets have a look at your Babe and Lou.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>It looks like this is a new set of W517 counterfeits. Bob Lemke contacted me and let me know that the previous counterfeits came from Sol Creamer in Harrisburg, Pa. The new ones are from Newport Kentucky. When mine arrives, I'll let you know if they have the same telltale print dots as the Harrisburg ones.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Brad Green</b><p><br />The Grove card that I bought last year with the dots in the border came through eBay from someone in Enola, PA.<br />

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>brad was that grove a counterfit? i remember that post and the card was pretty authentic looking.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Brad Green</b><p><br />I believe that my Grove is a fake. If anyone wants to see a high-res scan of it, send me an email and I'll send you a scan. My high-res scan clearly shows the dots in the border. "Lefty Grove" is also printed with a slightly different font than the other W517 Grove's that I've seen.<br />

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Bob C</b><p>Per Request!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.rbcraik.com/ebay/w517ruth.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.rbcraik.com/ebay/w517lou.jpg">

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Bob, those are beauts. I have the other version of the Lou, larger photo image and wider printed border. Thanks for posting 'em.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>My counterfeit W517 arrived. It does have the tiny print dots in the border, just like the previous round of counterfeits. It also has a glossier surface than the other W517s I've seen. The dots can't be seen with the naked eye -- at least not by my eyes. You need a magnifying glass to see them. I'd post a scan, but the dots won't show up at the resolution permitted by this website.<br /><br />I also took a close look at my other W517s and noticed that you can't rely indiscriminately on the circle with the number in it to decide if the card is counterfeit. If the circle appears on a dark background, then the circle should be pure white, without any print dots. But sometimes the circle appears on the player's uniform. When this happens, the print dots that make up the player's uniform will appear in the circle. So, it's safer just to look at the border to see if there are any print dots.

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Brad Green</b><p><br />Paul:<br /><br />I agree with you about the dots in the circle. I found this to be a difficult way to tell whether or not my Grove card was a fake.<br /><br />Please consider cropping your high-res scan and posting the cropped image. Perhaps you could just show a corner of the card, rather than the whole card.<br /><br />This evening I will find the old thread about my Grove fake and post it here. I believe I showed the dots in the border in that thread.<br /><br />Brad<br />

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Brad Green</b><p><br />Here is a link to my Grove W517 thread from last summer. There is a link to my high-res scan about 2/3 the way down that page.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/thread/1185020570" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/thread/1185020570</a>

Counterfeit W517s Resurface
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p> Years ago, Bill Spiegler had thousands of these reprinted in four different colors. These are copies of the "PA farmhouse find". Spig had the sense to print w517 on the bottom L edge. Of course, devious sellers trim this away. <br /><br /><br />Please support the Strike and Stay Away from the baY<br /><br />Edit; Removed photo that are genuine W517's. Again, my apologies Bob.