1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth
 

Good evening, everyone. I am looking to add a Babe Ruth card to my collection and have gravitated to the one mentioned in the title of this thread.

Before finding Net54, I had never collected Pre-War cards and still have a somewhat limited amount of experience with them. Since joining this site, I encountered many great collectors willing to help me along my journey, have learned quite a bit about T206 cards, and feel confident that I can finally purchase cards from that particular set without outside help.

With '33 Goudey, though, I have yet to handle any of these and do not know what to look for. As such, I will be sticking to graded examples from PSA, SGC, or BVG. Still, there are pitfalls involved with purchasing graded cards, especially those of Ruth.

I have recently become aware that there are two different versions of this double-printed card and would like to know how to tell them apart. Additionally, I would like to know what to look for regarding cracked-and-resealed holders, how to spot fakes, etc.

Please help. I want to make sure that my first four figure purchase is not filled with buyer's remorse...or, even worse, victim-of-fraud horror.

Signed,

A Pre-War newbie

I did not know there was multiple variations of this card. I am also interested to hear this information from anyone who can provide a reference.

Thanks,

Sean

One version has better focus and clarity than the other.

Would that not just be a separate printing? Is there any website comparing the two?

Peter,

Yes, I read that in a book with Joe O in the credits. Without having the two cards in front of me, side-by-side, what should I look for?

And, more importantly, how would I spot a fake?

Best,

Eric

It was double printed on the same sheet, I believe.

The card is never, in my experience, perfectly focused. You just have to look at a bunch and see that some are better than others.

This version of Ruth has been found with #159 Bluege back upside down. That is the only REAL variation of this card that I am aware of. I have had over 50 1933 Ruths in my collection and never seen the wrong back variation.


Good luck,
Jason

I read the same thing in, "Collecting Sports Legends" by Joe O. Still trying to tell the two apart.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Goudey-...item2c6e899ecf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Goudey-...item54056348b8

Face is so small it's hard to tell from scans but unless it's just scanning differences I think these may be different.

Also, I think I read someplace, and these two bear it out, that on the clearer one there is a bigger gap between the cap and the top.

:D:D:D

http://photos.imageevent.com/rgold/ebay/image_13.jpg

Well shee**t.

sheet
 

Great looking sheet Ronald. It is hard to tell from the scan but can you see the spacing difference in the 2 Ruth #144's and the associated clarity difference? It's hard for me to tell on any of them, quite honestly. Some are a bit better focused but none are great, as has been said.

To the OP - I can't help you wih your question, but I can say this: I think the Goudey 144 is my favorite card in the hobby. Your choice of target is an excellent one, IMO.