I was reading this post while waiting to become a member here and found this very interesting!
Definitely learned some things, and based on what I have read about fakes etc, I believe, unfortunately for the purchaser, that it is indeed a fake.
Found this, which I think also explains some things.
http://bbcemporium.com/1952-topps-mi...terfeit-guide/
Analyzing the Authentic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Card
Because the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle was double printed, there actually exists two different variations of the card, Type I and Type II. Each type has a few unique identifiers which will be discussed.
1952 Topps Mantle Type I graphic
Type I Front
1952 Mickey Mantle Back Type I graphic
Type I Back
The lower left corner is a missing a pixel, thus not forming a completing square corner
The team logo has a solid black border around it entirely
The stitches on the baseball are facing to the left
The “h” in Right and “s” in DiMaggio’s are nearly perfectly aligned.
1952 Topps Mantle Type II graphic
Type II Front
1952 Mickey Mantle Back Type II graphic
Type II Back
There is a missing blue pixel
There is only a partial black border around the Yankee logo
The top border overlaps the two side borders
The border around Mantle’s name is not as smooth an even as the Type I card
The stitches on the baseball are pointed to the right
The “t” in Right and the “s” in DiMaggio’s are nearly perfectly aligned.
One thing is for sure, there is not a shortage of 1952 Topps Mantle counterfeits available. If you ever decide to buy this iconic card, make sure the card has been graded by a reputable grading company and the card is being sold by a reputable dealer.