Posted By:
MarkTo spell out my idea, Steve Verkman (or any other interested party) might investigate to see if there is a copyright/patent record from 1930 for a Goudey Babe Ruth card. If there is such a record, particularly if it provides an adequate description of the card (e.g., Ruth batting surrounded by stars on front, calendar on reverse), that might help authenticate it since it would prove Goudey did print such a card in 1930. It stands to reason that if Goudey sought copyright/patent protection for its 1933 cards, it may have sought the same protection for a card it issued three years earlier.
I suspect there are services located in DC or WV that would retrieve the copyright/patent records for you for a fee, so I doubt one would really have to travel to WV to tour the underground vault. Since the card would be worth much more than 18k if authenticated, perhaps it’d be worth it. You're welcome, Steve.