1913 Fatima T200's reprint/authenticity questions

[rainier2004]

So im back with another entry level question. I know reprints of t200's are common but I have never held one in my hand. I also have never held a raw t200 in my hand either. So are the reprints easy to identify or are they easily "aged" and look similar enough to pass to non-experts. It appears that reprint borders are darker in color but I didnt recognize anything else from scans immediately.
Thanks and happy holidays.

[Leon]

Reprints of T200s should be relatively easy to spot. The fact they are photographic type cards will make the reprints and fakes more difficult to conceal, especially when in hand. If there is any dot pattern they will be fakes. That being said there is no doubt scammers will try anything to pass off a forgery.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Leon

Reprints of T200s should be relatively easy to spot. The fact they are photographic type cards will make the reprints and fakes more difficult to conceal, especially when in hand. If there is any dot pattern they will be fakes. That being said there is no doubt scammers will try anything to pass off a forgery.

I echo Leon's sentiments. I am working on a set. All of the cards I have acquired have been graded; not by choice it is just that the stock is thin & more delicate than cardstock.

In addition, it is easier to tell if the card is a repro if you ask for scans of the back. Most of the reprints I have seen have a different appearance on the back (easier to pick up artificial aging).

Z Wheat

[drc]

The genuine T200s are paper thin, and glossy on the image side and rough/matte on the back. This is a good help in determining if one you have in hand is an original. The originals actual photos on old time photo paper.

And, as noted, since the are real photos (not lithos or other printing press prints) they won't have a dot pattern in them-- front or back. Any T200 with a dot pattern, especially on the image side, in a reprint.

Lastly, the originals often have an aging effect called 'silvering.' If you look at the front surface and at different sharp angles to light, a silver patina may appear in parts, especially the dark areas-- getting darker and lighter and disappearing as you change the angle. This is an aging effect on antique photos and is strong evidence of old age. Won't appear on a reprint. You can sometimes even see the silvering in an online image. One thing is if the card was light/underdeveloped this silvering patina might not appear or be much harder to see. So it may not appear on all genuine cards.

For the beginner, though, I think the simplest and quickest thing to look for is the thin paper with glossy on front and matte on back.

All the qualities are the same for the original T222 Fatimas too. The T222s are the same kind of kind of thin 'photo cards.'

[rainier2004]

THanks guys, that'll help. Id assume they glow nice under a black light as well?

[Fred]

The card stock of a fake T200 is very obvious if you've ever handled real T200's. This is one series of cards I can see having encapsulated due to their fragile nature.

[FrankWakefield]

cycleback mentions T222's... I've seen fake and reprint T200's, but I've not seen a fake T222, although they may well be out there. The point is that if you can buy or see in person a real T222, then that will go a long way toward learning to discern authentic T200's. These cards are on thin photographic paper, hardly cards at all.

[fkw]

just wanted to add, most "doctored reprints" will have faked corner wear and creases like a common baseball card, showing slightly rounded or dogeared corners with white where its worn.
A real T200 is not a printed card, it is a REAL PHOTOGRAPH, and if you bend them they will often break or at least crack. and to add most will have some crazing (small cracks to the surface when held at an angle to the light), and they also often are slight curled because the photo part has shrunk ever so slightly over time, more than the photo paper its on, (same with T222, N172s)

They are some of the easiest of "doctored reprints" to spot.

PS. also never soak an authentic T200 or T222, they will be destroyed, real photographs and water dont mix.

[rainier2004]

What are the measurement suppose to be on t200s? Lipset has them at 4 3/4" by 2 5/8" but my raw card that I just received today and seems to be authentic measures 4 7/8" by 2 3/4"...I though Lipset was usually right. Any help would be great.