Is it real....?
 

These are the only pics.... any help greatly appreciated. TIA

Looks fine. Not a likely card for the scammers to try and make a replica of.

It looks right to me. Those rough cuts add to my belief it's real.

I don’t think a reprint, with intent to deceive, has ever been made of this card.

I was thinking the same thing. Much appreciate everyones input.

It's an "officail" card

There are two things that bother me about the card.

First, I feel like the white of the Brooklyn B is whiter than the card’s border. My belief for this issue is that white was achieved simply by the absence of ink.

Additionally, I feel like I see some bright white specs along the edge of the card. This could be a sign that the off-white borders were simply printed onto white stock but with some tiny spots missed.

Neither of these is egregious but I’d look more closely in hand to see if these findings are real vs my impression from the photo.

You nailed it. Next would be loupe, blacklight, "feel", "smell", not possible without sealing the deal most likely.

I believe it's real. The rough cut edges make it more likely in my view. I would buy it ungraded without hesitation.

As for the various shades of white that were brought up, I've noticed that colors sometimes appear different from reality in cell phone photos. I recently photographed a jersey with royal blue piping and royal blue numbers, and in the photo, the piping is blue, but numbers came out looking black. If the item is flat, I have much better luck with a scanner.

I have numerous 1949 Bowman’s where the white in a uniform is lighter colored than the edge and are undoubtedly authentic (beater commons really help me be sure ;))

I also understand the white in a uniform is just blank stock without ink, and thus should be the same color. It seems to me that it’s pretty common this particular issue (but not the Bowman’s after it) that the edges have a tendency to tone more and first.

Just an observation from my collection; hardly definitive. Curious if others have noticed the same though.

This phenomenon is not unique to sports cards. The pages (and cover, occasionally) of a comic book also tend to tone around the edges more and first.

Just figured that tidbit might interest some of you.

The paper stock of the 1949 Bowman’s seems to have a more pronounced toning-from-exposure effect than is normal with cards of this vintage. It is not the only set like this, but it leads, in combination with the art style that uses raw cardboard as white instead of ink, to make it appear there are two colors than other sets of the period.

I'd love to meet the idiot who tries to scam people by counterfeiting Preacher Roe cards. It would be akin to faking $1 notes. You could do it, but it's more cost effective to just take an honest 9-5 job. There's no way this is faked.

Anybody counterfeiting cards is focusing on the obvious targets (1952 Mantle, Goudey Ruth, t206 Cobb, etc.)

It's in hand. Looks legit to me.

While I don't disagree with your thought process, I'd hardly compare a Preacher Roe rookie card with $1 fakes. Maybe a $10 is more appropriate, but then again I am a biased Dodger collector.

Now if the Joe Hatten card was being forged, then we are talking about $1s (or even quarters!).

Clearly the lighting of a photo can be highly deceiving!
This is a perfect example.