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Scott ElkinsHowever, let me clarify a few things. First of all, when a Wagner is sold, have you ever seen another by its side for comparison? Especially a Piedmont Wagner?
Also to David Rudd's statement that I understand just fine. If you know the history of the PSA 8 Wagner, it was NOT sold directly to Bill Mastro. I don't even know if the sheet was sold as real or not. I do know it was sold at a FL Flea Market and ended up in New York. Bill Mastro was not the intended buyer for ever who made the sheet. For all we know, the person who produced the sheet might have been deceased - if it was printed in 1909 or 1950. So, this argument that someone selling a forgery would not target Mastro is true, but has NOTHING to do with a Piedmont Wagner that was printed in the 1950's! I don't even think Bill Mastro started collecting cards until the early to mid 60's anyway.
Also, a MAJOR FACT some of the people attacking these 1950's reprints are missing is that NONE of the known Piedmont Wagners have any provenance that can be traced back beyond the 1950's! Is that a coincidence? You might think so, I think not! I remember Doug Allen e-mailing me with a letter stating he had proof that the last T206 Piedmont Wagner Mastro sold was an original issue. Well, in typical Doug Allen style, he was spinning the facts - the letter was dated in the 1950's! I told Doug this letter only provides provenance back to the 1950's, and since it is no earlier, really adds more fuel to the fire that these Piedmont Wagners were printed in the 1950's! Also, ALL of these Piedmont Wagners have been cut from sheets! Also, Piedmont is the MOST COMMON T206 back - there should be twice as many T206 Wagners with Piedmont backs as Sweet Caporal backs if they were issued in 1909 with Piedmont backs! I have given some strong arguments here as to why I believe the Piedmont Wagners were printed in the 1950's. SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE SOME PROVENANCE OF ONE OF THESE PIEDMONT WAGNERS BEFORE 1950! Don't just say, well they couldn't have been printed in the 1950's or Bill Mastro said so - I WANT REAL PROOF. You won't be able to find it - I know, as I have looked for it myself over the years! You won't even find anyone talking seriously of a Piedmont Wagner until after Mastro sold the one that now resides in a PSA 8 holder to Copeland. There must be some reason Mastro would not let Rob Lifson look at the Wagner closely when they went to buy it with Rob's money!?!?!? Again, list some proof. I can say we all know technology usually advances. If the printers could print sheets of T206's in 1909, do you really think that some of these Bowman employees (who were fair printers in their own right I am sure) couldn't have done something that was done in 1909 in the 1950's