Newly discovered or newly printed 1972 Clemente Venezuelan
 

Originally listed here :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLEMENTE-VEN...p2047675.l2557

I asked the original seller -
"please tell me more about this item. I have collected Clemente for many years and never seen it. What year is it from? Is this a newly produced item or vintage? It has a number - 251 on it - what set is it part of? How/where did you acquire it? Thanks."

-Howard

He responded:

"Friend I am told some collectors it is a test of the 70's acquired through a barter"





currently listed here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-VENEZUE...item1c548ed4f2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-VENEZUE...:X:RTQ:US:1123




Anyone know the seller? Legit? Shady? While I always allow for the possibility that there are things out there I have not ever seen, after collecting Clemente for over 25 years AND collecting Venezuelan issues for about 20, the things I see annually that make that list is small to none. I know that the 1972 Venezuelan stamps have been reprinted/counterfeited as discussed on this board. My guess is the listed "sticker" is newly created. I sent a message to the current seller:

"Hello sir,

I have collected Clemente for over 25 years. I am writing to let you know I am HIGHLY suspicious that the Clemente is a newly created sticker. There is a source that has been counterfeiting the 1972 stickers out of Venezuela. There is discussion about it on the net 54 discussion boards. I saw this Clemente for the first time about a week or two ago. I never saw it before. The color and font are different than any other 1972 sticker I have seen. I do not believe it to be legitimate.

Howard"

His first response:

"ok ?"

His next response:

"so you're not buying it ??"

Thoughts and input appreciated - especially yours Josh. Anyone happen to know who sticker #251 in the 1972 set is supposed to be?

The set only went up to 242.

The latest exhange
 

So I responded to his "so you're not buying it" with:

"I am trying to verify its legitimacy. If it was recently created/printed - no I am not buying it. If its legitimacy can be confirmed, I would be a buyer. What history or details can you provide?"


To which he responded:

"??? Please stop"

Fake! Fake! Fake!
 

The font used on this "card", Bell Gothic, was designed in 1938 for proprietary use by AT&T for phone books. It was not publicly released until 1997.

i know nothing about the validity of the clemente card, but there is a nolan ryan card that i have been trying to track down that is from the same year, but has a green border....

edit: however, i'm pretty sure it's a stamp

COMPLETE FAKE:

notice the all caps name font on "AL KALINE":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Venezue...item3aab11f3d0

then take a look at how clemente's name is spelled on this card: "Roberto Clemente"

Thanks guys - for the additional evidence
 

The lengths people will go to to steal a buck.......

Clemente
 

You did not need another Clemente anyway, Howard :)

LOL. They were a little more direct with me. " Don't be so INTERCOURSING RUDE " !

Seller ended the card today. Go back and read his description. Think a few of you guys pissed him off :)

Which
 

Was it lost or was it broken ? Howard, you should ask him.

Not to sound stupid, but when i saw this, my first thought was the 68 atlantic oil cards.

Lol
 

Interesting when he listed it originally and as part of the group of 3 it was from 1972 - then changed on the single to "unknown". Thanks to all who contacted him.

We can't clean up the whole world, but every piece of trash removed makes the world a little bit cleaner!