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Posted By: davidcycleback

Since the 1800s, there have been color progression proofs, which are used before final printing to test all the colors combinations for a card (red/blue, yellow/black, etc). Below are progression proofs for a 1975 Hostess card that came from the Topps Archives. The cards have no text. While rare, bizarre color combinations can happen due to intentional proofing or misprinting.



Other than for personal experiment, I don't know why someone would intentionally remove Brown's facade, as it presumably lowers the value. Most paying collectors prefer Brown to be all there. Also, it appears the background of the finished card is made up of two inks-- olive and yellow. I don't believe it would be possible to remove one color ink while leaving the other. Anything you do to remove one ink is going to remove the other inks at the same area. For the background of Jim's card, it appears only one ink was printed-- which is consistent with other parts of the card not being printed.

It's an out of the ordinary card, no doubt, but it seems to me unlikely a forger looking for money would intentionally make a card to look like that.