'33 Goudey Ruths - likelihood of fakes
 

Your opinion please - I have begun working on the '33 Goudey baseball set, started 2 years ago and just reached the 100 card level.
Some day I will be faced with the chance to buy a Ruth at a card show from a dealer. It will be lower grade (P/F).
What is the % likelihood that it will be fake if it is raw?
What is the % likelihood that it will be fake if it is slabbed?
How can I best educate myself for this eventuality?
Thanks for your input!
Richard Dingman
brightair

Hi Richard.

Several things you can do to ensure the Ruth you buy is legit. Buy from only trustworthy sellers/dealers. That's rule #1. When you get the Ruth in your hand, compare it to other cards from the same set under a loupe. Examine everything from the paper stock to the printing techniques. If it's a graded card, look for prior transactions involving your card on card target.com.

Lastly, if you have any questions about the card, post scans of the card here, front and back. There's no better resource available to you if you're unsure about the authenticity of a card.

Hope this helps!

Bill

Thanks Bill, good advice. But may not all be possible when I am standing in front of a dealer's booth. However, I will bring strong magnification device!

Welcome. :) I don't think a dealer would have a problem with your examining a card, so it's definitely a good idea to bring a loupe with you.

I look forward to seeing your Ruth cards as you add them. Happy hunting!

fake
 

When I go to shows, I always bring a few beaters with me for comparison. I always have a low grade T206, T205, 33 Goudey, and a few others. I carry a loop and a small Radio Shack microscope (not much larger than a pack of gum), so I can compare my beater card to cards that I may want to purchase. I can identify most of these without the aide of a loupe, but for a higher dollar card I want to completely verify it before I make a purchase.

In the past couple of months I have seen 2 fake ungraded Goudey Ruths at small shows that I attended, plus a fake Gretzky rookie.


Rick