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
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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.