How do you tell if an Old Judge has been rebacked?
 

This may seem like a dumb question which has a simple answer, but I was wondering if someone could relate how you can spot an OJ reback? Is the "pebbly" back the clue (as opposed to flat smooth backs?)

That one looks like the edges might be real (real back) and it might just be thinned down a little (slight skinning). In general look for imperfections on the front that dont correspond with anything on the back (it is hard to skin an Old Judge without some warping or wrinkling of the paper). Rebacked Old Judges dont have a slight bow to them (they are usually very flat). Old Judges that have been rebacked also have wavy edges generally because people glue them to bigger board and then trim them down so you wont have the bumpy edges consistant with 19th century cutting process either. It is hard to explain or even be 100% sure from a scan, but it is like pornography, hard to define but you know it when you see it.

Rhys

Thanks Rhys, I appreciate the reply and information.
tbob

WHat Rhys said. I just discovered one last week for the first time. What raised a red flag for me was exactly what Rhys mentioned - a crease/small crack on the front that did not have corresponding damage on the back. I then got out my black light and the area around the crack and all four edges fluoresced from the glue.
JimB

Like others said, many original OJs are warped or bowed slightly (because the real photo image side shrank slightly over last 125 years) sort of like the Kelloggs 3D cards.

Id look at the edges for age discoloration, if someone were to reback a card I would think they may need to slightly trim up the new back to fit the front exactly and the edges may look brighter that they should.

Thats card looks OK to me, some back edge age color and slight chipping but maybe compare it to another OJ would be good?

Thanks Jim and Frank. My pre-1900 card knowledge is limited so I appreciate all the help I can get :D