1949 Leaf BABE RUTH how do you spot a fake?
 

I recently had an opportunity to acquire a large lot. He had several vintage cards along with this Ruth. Of course my immediate thought it was a sure fake. The corners were mint sharp no surface wear whatsoever. I know it is 100% fake, but I'm not sure how to spot one other than it is too good for this era and it looks like the printer ran out of ink when it was copied! Could anyone give me some tips? Of course I also knew it was a fake as he offered to sell this for 15,000! I should have walked away at that point! I'm sure the other stuff was fake as well. Needless to say, I didn't spend a time on that collection.

He was so upset when I told him I wouldn't consider paying a buck for it as it is clearly a bad reprint. He said he bought it from a dealer 10 years ago paying a considerable amount of $...whatever. I'm fairly certain you can buy these on ebay for $4.95 a dozen.

not sure
 

but i think you are wrong. Rarely make a definitive srtatement based on a scan but i am having trouble seeing anything wrong. The $4.95 counterfeits on ebay do not look like this at all. They are white not cream colored. The back does look kinda funky though i would rather have in hand than i would give you a 100% one way or the other

You are exactly right a good word to describe the back is "funky" It had a grainy look as if it was copied with wrinkles on the text. It did not have a cardboard feel it was flawless smooth as any modern card would feel. It had a red tint as you can see in the pic. The ones I researched do not have the red tint look around the face.

1949 Leaf BABE RUTH how do you spot a fake?
 

Cut it open and count the cardboard growth rings.:D