Black Light Discussion:

[samosa4u]

I have heard about black light for years, but I have never bothered to look into it. So here goes:

Is there anyone here who uses it? What are some of the things that you can see on cards that aren't visible under normal light? If you can provide examples or upload pictures, then that would be great. Do you think that it's important to own one, especially for collectors who like to spend big money?

I heard that companies like PSA use black light only on expensive cards - is this true? So does this mean that cheaper cards have a higher chance of passing through?

And finally, I see so many different ones on eBay - which one is good? A torch? A bar? Can someone on here explain the specs a little more to me? I see so many different numbers.

Thanks for your post

[nat]

"Is there anyone here who uses it?"

Yes

"What are some of the things that you can see on cards that aren't visible under normal light?"

Many post-WWII paper products (and, really, lots of other products) are made with optical brighteners. These chemicals make colors stand out more, but they also glow under a black light. Shine a black light on a white t-shirt and you'll see what I mean. If a card that purports to be from pre-WWII glows brightly under a black light, that's a strong sign that it's a fake. (Many things glow a little naturally, so you might also want to compare a suspect card with one you know to be genuine.) You might also be able to spot things that have been added to a card later (like re-coloring). Note, though, that not all newer materials have this stuff, so it's not a fool-proof test.

"Do you think that it's important to own one, especially for collectors who like to spend big money? "

I don't spend big money and I have one.

As for the specs, I don't know. Most of the little flashlight ones release a little visible light also. That's okay, but it makes it a bit harder to see the effect of the black light. Ideally you want it to be really dark.

[drcy]

How to Use a Black Light to Identify Reprints and Fakes of Antique Paper Collectibles

My favorite is the little LED flashlight shown in the article. But there are different styles that give off the same blacklight, so the style is just a personal preference. As long as they give off blacklight, they all work the same.

For more esoteric reading, shining a blacklight on a baseball card is an elemental form of spectroscopy, which is a highly advanced nuclear physics area. Spectroscopy in artifacts examination

[steve B]

I don't have any pics, and the kids have misplaced my current blacklight. I'll have to take some once I find it.

My current one is like this, different wavelengths from the tube and LED.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/6-Inch-Handheld-UV-Black-Light-Torch-LED-Flashlight-Portable-Blacklight-UV-Money-Detector-Stamp-Detection-Fluorescent-Marks-Certificates-Repairs/258626270?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=9600&adid=22222222227085181491&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=200762835355&wl4=aud-310687322322la-326247045725&wl5=9060550&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117430005&wl11=online&wl12=258626270&wl13=&veh=sem

My old one was one of these. Stronger, and more accurate wavelengths, but a bit expensive.

http://www.bapequipmentstore.com/ind..._detail&p=1523


There's a lot to see, how the different inks and papaers react to the UV, some light up, some don't. Most prewar paper won't. Some writing will, even if it's mostly erased, some stains, that sort of stuff.

[h2oya311]

If you want to have a heart-attack, come to Phoenix and go out at night with a black light...scorpions glow under a black light whereas almost nothing else does...eek!

[toledo_mudhen]

In South Texas Scorpions are a delicacy - I link the semi translucent ones with some drawn butter & garlic.........

[jefferyepayne]

You don't have to be into expensive stuff to want/need a black light. It's one tool in your bag of tricks to detect *some* fakes/reprints. I use it mostly to determine whether photos are possibly restrikes / reprints.

One thing to remember. If paper glows it was likely produced after 1939. If it does not glow, you don't know when it was produced as some newer paper products do not have optical whiteners. Also remember that fakes/reprints can be created with old paper stock that was produced before 1940 and will not glow.

jeff

[bnorth]

I have the CFL type black lights. My bathroom does not have any windows so I chance out the regular CFLs in my vanity to the black light ones. No matter what type of light you are using they work best if they are your only light available.

A halogen light works great also, especially with alterations made to black. It makes Sharpie and most other added black appear grey.

[TheFriendlyLion]

I recently acquired a few cards. The Young and Cobb are most definitely counterfeit or some unidentified reprint with no copyright (same thing). They don't feel right, there's cracks in the ink on Cobb's face, yet there's no impasto; so it must be an image. They glow like a glow worm too . The Wagner appears to be a glossy photographic front surface on a fibrous, parchment-like paper stock. It reflects only partially on back; perhaps some later applied adhesion or alteration. What do you folks think of these examples.Front with blacklight.jpg

Back with blacklight.jpg

Wagner.jpg

Wagner Back with Reflecting Blotch.jpg

Cobb Young backs.jpg

Cobb Young Fronts.jpg

Cobb Young side shot.jpg

Wagner Front.jpg

Wagner Back.jpg

Wagner Side view.jpg

[kmac32]

It has other uses like detecting if your cards have ringworm. 50% of ringworm cases of the species microspoum canis will Glow green and great for hunting for scorpions as they glow green also.

[1880nonsports]

as seen on jeopardy this evening - the platypus will exhibit a similar glow.....

[FrankWakefield]

Friendly Lion, I think that if you paid for those cards thinking they were genuine originals, that now you must be glad you got a black light and sad that you bought those cards. Yet isn't it good that you got that light now, rather than you buy additional cards not recognizing the distinctions for two or three more years before you finally try a black light.

Cycleback's article link is good guidance. Leon mentions a good tool set (which includes having or having seen genuine cards of a particular issue). And bigfanNY talking about the glue residue, that's evidence supporting the idea that almost all really old cards in really great shape were long ago pasted into scapbooks, only later to be soaked off of the scrapbook pages. I'm on with that; but some folks are in denial about that for they cannot see the light (pun intended).

[TheFriendlyLion]

I'm also sad I stared into the black light; and upset that the light doesn't seem to work when I shine it on the image of the next antique card I want to impulsively buy on FB Marketplace from my laptop - cardinal sin. Give me a break, I'm cooped up with Covid ! In all seriousness, this thread and all who have contributed to it have been very helpful, including J Blacklight. I like to think, we learn more from our failures than we do our successes if we fess up to them. Ya win some, ya lose some, guess - just yesterday afternoon I told a venerable customer of mine how sad I was about being deceived in the Marketplace so he went up to his attic and brought down his dusty old childhood stash of cards because he was at the end of his life (101 years old!) and wanted to do something nice for this relatively young, hard-working enthusiast (all lies).

[Exhibitman]

The blacklight rules out anachronistic photo stock, doesn't establish the age of the photo itself. It is a good tool but not definitive.

[T205 GB]

Buy a black light made for Ice Fishing. They are very powerful and very affordable. Also very resilient to the elements and abuse.

[lowpopper]

You need a blacklight to pickup recoloring via highlighter