Need help from the 52 Mantle experts
 

I am in the market for one of these but I am scared. So many fakes floating around. This one looks real, but I am not positive. Any help would be great. More pics can be added if needed.

http://i56.tinypic.com/f3rnv6.jpg

Fake
 

I would vote "fake". Look how the corners/edges come to 90 degree angles yet although the other parts show wear, there should be rounded-ness to those corners is my point

If your going to spend the money for one just spend a little more for a graded one. Would rather overpay to ensure it is real

I agree and that is my plan, but if I can get a decent one not graded that is fine too. 98% though I am going the graded route.

I am looking at 51 Mantles and I just don't trust what you see on eBay You don't get to hold it up close. Graded is worth the piece of mind on cards like these

corners = bad
 

Have you ever seen a real card with that kind of wear without some rounded-ness to the corners? Those corners are rebuilt, the card is a fake.

You could buy a raw 52 Mantle, just do so from a reputable dealer. I think that a majority of the good ones (for sale) are slabbed while a majority of the non-slabbed ones are bad.

BTW- There is a post-war side of the board. (4th link from the top left)

The 1952 Topps Mantles get a free pass. The 1984 Fleer Strawberry doesn't.

It's a fake.

Some people actually don't know it's there, js.

I am sorry. I am on this board a year and never even realized it was there :)

Mantle ended up going for over 3G. This is the 3rd one the seller has sold in the past couple of weeks. All look different but none graded or in nice condition. The search continues :(

You may want to stick to buying only graded examples. The card pictured at the top of this thread is a reprint and not a good one.

The overall color is all washed out, especially comparing the image to the very dark top and bottom black border lines. The lines are also way too thick and the bottom line should be closer in color to the uniform letters just above it in picture.

Thanks for your input. The search is on for a graded one.

Joe

This one is obviously a fake -- and if you have to ask why, you need to stick with graded cards for like a decade before you mess with raw. Either that, or get your hands dirty with some 1952 commons.

If your first 1952 Topps cards is a raw Mantle, you've just been had.

Fake - and I echo what every one else says - when you are talking high dollar such as even a poor '52 Mantle will set you back, go graded. There are other things you have to worry about besides a card being fake - for example, trimming, color added, etc.

fake