Hi Fred--I think we are dealing with one kind of back but over the almost 130 years since the cards were issued they have had different treatments leading to different appearances. Unless it is something obvious if I have any questions I loope the edges to check the texture. Rebacked cards often were trimmed to size leaving areas of compression. Obvious things would be obviously wrong cardboard or thinner cardboard (or both). I've seen so many that when in hand I can tell with a high degree of certainty just by looking.
Of course, if someone rebacked a skinned OJ photo on an actress card backing of the same dimensions then it is almost impossible to tell unless glue residue is on the sides.
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