1952 Topps Mantle Real????
 

Someone has this Mantle for sale and says that it is a reprint because PSA labeled it as authentic. I emailed the seller and asked if he had anything from PSA stating that and have not gotten a response although he did reply to someone else. Does PSA label reproductions as authentic or does it mean authenticity is questionable? Just wanted to get the boards opinion and thoughts.

Authentic = real thing just do not meet minimum standards to get a numerical grade. I have seen reprints that are graded as authentic but its stated clearly as a reprint card on the holder. This card is a high number but by no means rare...mistakes happen but its hard to fathom that any of the grading services can't figure out if its repro or real because its so popular and in high demand.

they slab authentic cards as authentic and reprints don't get slabbed but get flips that say auth?

Newbies get confused sometimes because They dont just come out and say an item is fake, like they should.

They use "Auth?" for something that is determined to be NOT Authentic, but newbies often think this means that PSA couldnt tell for sure.