Please help, fake or real Babe Ruth

[gomer183]

There was a thread some time ago about a Babe Ruth candy wrapper. Well I just came across one and couldn't help myself from buying it. I bought it from a gentleman in his sixties, he stated that he bought from an estate auction of an avid baseball collector about 20-30 years ago. There were also tobacco cards at this auction. I am unable to find someone to authenticate it. Can someone please help me.

[Leon]

I can't be positive from a scan as these are sort of tough to tell. I have owned several and I would say there is a 90%+ chance yours is good. From the scan I think it is. I am sure mine is real so you can compare....

[ctownboy]

I have never owned one of these wrappers but aren't they made of wax paper?

Why i ask is because ACOFIND (an eBay seller who sells reproductions and who was discussed in another thread earlier in the week) often lists these Babe Ruth wrappers (which he says he bought at an estate sale) and they are made of regular paper.

David

[prewarsports]

I dont think it is good. Leons is clearly real (color contrast between the light wax paper and the dark ink images of the graphics) where yours is sort of brown. I tell people to look at the borders where it should be creamy white, the fakes are all aged too much in general.

I bet I have seen (ebay/in person/auction catalogs) 300 of these in the last 10 years and only 2 or 3 have been real, they are basically (with a few exceptions) all fake which is very unfortunate because they are such beautiful items.

Just my opinion, but these are some of the most faked items in the hobby besides Fro-Joy Ruth cards.

BEST WAY TO TELL is to look at the creases on the white border. If it is real wax paper the crease will actually break the wax and create a white line (see Leons) but if it is printed on paper and made to look real the crease will just be a paper crease and not change the color of the item. If that makes sense to people?

Rhys

[Leon]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

I dont think it is good. Leons is clearly real (color contrast between the light wax paper and the dark ink images of the graphics) where yours is sort of brown. I tell people to look at the borders where it should be creamy white, the fakes are all aged too much in general.

I bet I have seen (ebay/in person/auction catalogs) 300 of these in the last 10 years and only 2 or 3 have been real, they are basically (with a few exceptions) all fake which is very unfortunate because they are such beautiful items.

Just my opinion, but these are some of the most faked items in the hobby besides Fro-Joy Ruth cards.

BEST WAY TO TELL is to look at the creases on the white border. If it is real wax paper the crease will actually break the wax and create a white line (see Leons) but if it is printed on paper and made to look real the crease will just be a paper crease and not change the color of the item. If that makes sense to people?

Rhys

Now that you mention it Rhys, you are probably correct. I was really only looking at the photo which is not grainy. The paper should be wax type paper. I have a bit of trouble telling these from scans.......I would take your opinion over mine on this. Now if we had them in person...I think our footing would be more equal .

I didn't care for the staining on the top example but I didn't weight it enough because I focused on the photo part too much.

[prewarsports]

It is hard to tell anything from a scan, but I got taken on one of these fakes when they first popped up in the market in about 2004 and knew someone with a real one to compare it to. As a side note, these still pop up in major auctions and grading companies slab them still (or at least they did) so nobody should feel bad about getting fooled on one of these. I would just stay away from them unless you are 100% positive AND you get a guaranteed from the seller!

[gomer183]

I forgot to mention, the paper does feel like wax paper. I appreciate all of your replies.............I just wish there was a way of getting it authenticated and graded. It makes a really great addition to my Yankees collection.

[gomer183]

Here's a scan of the back.............

[BrandonG]

This may just be coincidence, but has anyone else noticed that the "H" in George H. Ruth on Leon's example and this one is almost exactly the same? Like if it were scanned and couldn't be reprinted because the H was scratched out on the original?

Could be nothing, just thought it was odd.

[BrandonG]

After I read my post I need to mention that in no way was I saying that Leon had any part of that if it were a scan of his original. We all know what people can do now days with sample pictures from the internet.

[PhilNap]

I've always believed the obliterated "H" was a telltale sign of a fake. It just seems that 99% of those offered for sale have that same flaw.

[ctownboy]

Maybe it IS the same wrapper.

If you will notice, not only does the original poster's wrapper have the "H" scratched out (like Leon's wrapper does) but under the brown stain you can also see the number "7" (like Leon's wrapper has) in the same spot.

I quickly searched the web and looked for Babe Ruth Home Run candy wrappers and only these two wrappers have the number "7" on them.

Maybe some one is trying to have a little fun with the board.....

Not accusing anyone of anything but just bringing it up for discussion.

David

[gomer183]

Is it possible that the "H" was a weak spot due to the wrapping of the candy bar and the positioning of the card inside???

Just asking......

Does anyone know of where I could possibly send this wrapper...........

[Leon]

I don't think this is a farce first of all. Second of all I went and checked out other wrappers on the net. The ones I saw did have the 7 on them.

To the original poster. I am 100% sure I can tell in person, within 30 seconds, if it is real or not. Like Rhys said though, and I agree with, if it is not on wax type paper it is not real. If you want to send it to someone to see I will be happy to take a look at it. Email me at leonl@flash.net if you want my address and I will give it to you and you can send it on over....best regards

[ctownboy]

Sorry if I sounded cynical (I am) or accusatory (didn't mean to come off that way) but I have seen WAAAAAY to many scam artists try waaay too many things over the last few years and wouldn't put it past one to make a copy of something and then have the balls to come on the board to see if they could get people to vouch for its authenticity.

All the wrappers I saw listed on the web, from reputable sources, didn't have the number "7" on them. I just thought it odd that both wrappers shown had the same characteristics as one another but other wrappers didn't.

David

[Bugsy]

REA had a nice example a few years ago (has the 7):

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...21.html#photos

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

REA had a nice example a few years ago (has the 7):

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...21.html#photos

It also has a perfect 'H'. I admit, when I first looked at these I wondered if the first was a copy of the Leon's. If someone finds more examples of the fakes, I wonder if they all have this? Maybe Leon can trace the chain back and see if someone unscrupulous once owned his.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

Sorry if I sounded cynical (I am) or accusatory (didn't mean to come off that way) but I have seen WAAAAAY to many scam artists try waaay too many things over the last few years and wouldn't put it past one to make a copy of something and then have the balls to come on the board to see if they could get people to vouch for its authenticity.

All the wrappers I saw listed on the web, from reputable sources, didn't have the number "7" on them. I just thought it odd that both wrappers shown had the same characteristics as one another but other wrappers didn't.

David

Hey David
It never hurts to be a bit suspicious. I can appreciate that. The original poster has emailed me and is going to send the wrapper to me. I saw 3-5 wrappers on the net and all of them had the 7 on them. I can only guess that if you saw some without the 7 they were either trimmed or very slightly different. best regards