Here We Go Again!!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by ajw9356

New to Net54 but not to cards, however this isn't my area of expertise.
I have seen and held a card that had the Piedmont back. The card was purchased by a local in Kansas where I live at an auction about 30-35 years ago according to the card owner. I looked over the card and it was in a box of tools when purchased and has a pretty good oil stain to prove that. The biggest issue I had with the card was that it appeared to have a clear coat or something on top of the card that was not part of the original card. I need to get some pics if the card ever comes back into daylight, but had a couple questions for those familiar with these cards. I thought it looked suspect with the coating, however, I trust the guy who has it that it was purchased that long ago.
1-from the photo reference I see a Piedmont back, this card was produced then? Not just Sweet Coporal?
2-Anyone ever see anything like some sort of clear coating (similar to a lacquer)? The coating is well aged, I'm a hobby woodworker and there is definite petina on the card as well as the coating?
3-he wants to send for grading at some point! I'm seeing SGC as a large player for T206, this is the best company? I know PSA is big in vintage, but pre-war SGC correct?
4-I'll see what I can do to get some high quality photos in the future but I can also get a magnifier out and look at the printing, what do I need to look for front and back for printing?
Edit5- When did fakes start showing up or reprints?

1-from the photo reference I see a Piedmont back, this card was produced then? Not just Sweet Coporal?

Yes, but probably not as a regular production card. I'm fairly sure all the Piedmont backed Wagners have odd issues.

2-Anyone ever see anything like some sort of clear coating (similar to a lacquer)? The coating is well aged, I'm a hobby woodworker and there is definite petina on the card as well as the coating?

Sometimes. Could be shellac or varnish put on to protect it, or is fake a more modern gloss coating
.
3-he wants to send for grading at some point! I'm seeing SGC as a large player for T206, this is the best company? I know PSA is big in vintage, but pre-war SGC correct?

Either would be fine. But I'd recommend posting a good front and back scan here. The overwhelming odds are that it's a reprint. And at the least we can save one of you some postage.
At least one of the very common reprints is Piedmont backed, and readily available. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-11-T-20...item5d454885c8
4-I'll see what I can do to get some high quality photos in the future but I can also get a magnifier out and look at the printing, what do I need to look for front and back for printing?

If there's no factory shown at the bottom of the back It's probably fake.If there are signs or erasing where the copyright notice and "reprint" are on the back of the reprint linked above it's fake for sure. A couple of the other reprints may be piedmont backs too, but I can't find scans of them to be sure. The two big sets had a company name at the bottom of the back, so any problems in that area are almost a sure sign of a reprint.
The cardboard was one thickness, so if it looks at all like two layers it's probably a reprint skinned and glued to a real common.
The old printing looks very different than modern printing. The best thing is to get a low grade common T206 and study it. There should be plenty out there for under $20 maybe even closer to 10.

Edit5- When did fakes start showing up or reprints

Late 70's for sure, maybe early -mid 70's. Most of those were specifically made for collectors and have a back that describes the card. I have an earlier version that's black and white, so not exactly a reprint. But the later ones could fool someone if skinned and glued.

Steve B