52 topps attic find and detecting fakes

[JohnnyKilroy]

Found a guy who is trying to offload a bunch of 50s raw cards including a massive collection of 52 Topps. Literally found in a friends grandparents attic. Obviously the Mantle is commonly faked, but are there really fake commons and high numbers? His story doesn’t have too many holes, but if they are real, he’s sitting on quite a collection.

I purchased 2 cards off him through ebay that are graded and that’s how we got to talking. He didn’t have a huge seller history and doesn’t really have other listings. His story was that he sent 3 cards off to get graded through his local card shop, those are the ones he sold on ebay, and is overwhelmed with the collection and which way to go with it. Joked about the cost to grade cards and said he’d rather just sell them all raw. He’s got a couple 54 Williams and Robinsons that looks super clean and sharp, plus a real nice 55 Koufax. He sent me a bunch of pics and everything looks good to me, but I wouldn’t know the first thing about spotting a fake. What jumped out at me was how white the borders were and some were super centered.

He suggested I buy just a couple cards and he’d throw in a few 52 topps commons and high numbers. Then I could send them all off to PSA expedited, and if they check out, at least it would make me feel a little better about spending thousands on the collection. He said I could come out to Montana and check them all out any time I wanted, but I still need to figure out what I’m looking for.

Any suggestions, tips, tricks? 52 commons faked? What’s a VG common go for these days? VG high number? The one’s in card savers are all high numbers.

[ullmandds]

damn...they look nice!

[Exhibitman]

Had a recent similar situation. I asked the seller to send me a couple of the cards--commons--to look over for a small price. I chose the two. If they look good, I make the deal. If they are bad I am only out the price of a few commons.

[swarmee]

VG commons are in the $5-20 range. VG high number commons are in the $100 range.
And of course you want to check for the possibility of Gray Backs in the 1952 131-190 range, and in 1954's 1-50 range.

Commons from those gray back variations in VG condition sell for hundreds each.

[JohnnyKilroy]

Originally Posted by swarmee

VG commons are in the $5-20 range. VG high number commons are in the $100 range.
And of course you want to check for the possibility of Gray Backs in the 1952 131-190 range, and in 1954's 1-50 range.

Commons from those gray back variations in VG condition sell for hundreds each.

Thanks for that!

[drcy]

Offhand from those two smallish photos, the cards appear authentic.

What is that, a 500 count box? And I assume there are more boxes. That would be a ton of cards to fake. Making a 500 count box of fakes, including mostly assorted commons, isn't the way a forger would work.

When you get some cards, you can post scans here.

[Bcwcardz]

I really hope everything works out. Be careful. So many scammers out there. They are good too. I could see one sending real cards just to score a big deal later.


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[irv]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKilroy

Can someone tell me how you guys post such clear pics?? I take them with my phone, but the file size is too big. I try a scanner, but it comes out like the ones above. There’s got to be a trick I’m missing.

You need to do one card at a time and crop the pic so no background space is visible, just the card.
I then upload them to my documents on my computer then use "Manage Attachments" below then use "Choose File" to find the scan then upload it/them to the site.

If pics are still too big, there are a ton of image/pic resizers for free on the internet.

Good luck, and thanks for posting the pics you have so far.

[jimjim]

He sent you a Tony B? I thought that is a high dollar card.

[JohnnyKilroy]

Cards are the real deal! Received yesterday! On to the 52 build I go!

[71buc]

Congratulations I am genuinely excited for you. Its nice to know that there are still such items waiting to be discovered.