1951 Bowman Mantle - Expensive lesson?

[Leon]

This might be an expensive lesson...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1951-Bowman-...p2047675.l2557

.

[Bestdj777]

Agreed. It looks like the corners were intentionally clipped/rounded as part of the artificial aging process. I hope this was the result of shill bidding rather than someone paying that for a fake.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Agreed. It looks like the corners were intentionally clipped/rounded as part of the artificial aging process. I hope this was the result of shill bidding rather than someone paying that for a fake.

Well, the "winning bidder" has almost 35K transactions on ebay, so your first guess is probably correct, unless a buyer with that much apparent experience could be easily duped. In addition to the red flags on the front, the back immediately screamed artificial and clumsily executed counterfeit to me.

[pokerplyr80]

If that is a real transaction it's pretty sad. I have a hard time feeling bad for those who fall for these scams, but that price is half way towards a real 1.5-2 graded 51 Mantle. Expensive lesson indeed.

It is listed as an original so it shouldn't be difficult to return when the buyer receives the fake, assuming he's able to make that determination.

[tschock]

The back jumped out at me. It looked like a distressed reprint, and a little to 'white' rather than the 'greyish' back on the real ones. This might be one of those times that having a couple commons to compare to might really help.

[Zach Wheat]

The main thing I notice in almost every reprint/fake card - is the dark tea staining on the edges. It is hard to get the aging solution to evenly penetrate the edges AND the surface giving it that dark brown ring. I have seen that in almost every "aged" card.

Z