Ever seen the 1989 Ripken FF Mystery card?

bnorth,
I just recently became aware of the "Mystery Card" version of this card and read the detailed information on it at Jon's billripken.com site. I also recently purchased two on ebay and they are legitimate. They are being sold on ebay by a dealer named FoundTreasureIsland. I asked him how he got the cards and he said a big Bill Ripken collector friend of his had purchased them from an antique shop near where the old Fleer factory used to be and that he is the curator to sell them. He said he has been dealing with Bill Ripken error FF cards for about ten years. His rating on ebay is very high and he also has a lot of sales. I don't know how many of these cards he has but I looked at ebay's recent "Sold/Completed" items category and he has sold about 60 in the last 3 months (I also saw three from other dealers that were advertised as Mystery cards but actually were not which seems odd because the original error sells for more than what the Mystery card is selling for. I do wonder who the buyer of the "find" was and how many are actually in collector's hands. All in all just a fascinating story about a historical card that a lot of general collectors don't seem to really know about.
ajs

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ajs

bnorth,
I just recently became aware of the "Mystery Card" version of this card and read the detailed information on it at Jon's billripken.com site. I also recently purchased two on ebay and they are legitimate. They are being sold on ebay by a dealer named FoundTreasureIsland (the dealer's actual name is Will Arnett and his address is in Columbia, MO). I asked him how he got the cards and he said a big Bill Ripken collector friend of his had purchased them from an antique shop near where the old Fleer factory used to be and that he is the curator to sell them. He said he has been dealing with Bill Ripken error FF cards for about ten years. His rating on ebay is very high and he also has a lot of sales. I don't know how many of these cards he has but I looked at ebay's recent "Sold/Completed" items category and he has sold about 60 in the last 3 months (I also saw three from other dealers that were advertised as Mystery cards but actually were not which seems odd because the original error sells for more than what the Mystery card is selling for. I do wonder who the buyer of the "find" was and how many are actually in collector's hands. All in all just a fascinating story about a historical card that a lot of general collectors don't seem to really know about.
ajs

I know the guy who "found" them and there are several hundred. Yes they are legit, legit counterfeit IMHO. Just send one into a grading company and see what happens. Yes sometimes one gets through but most get returned as counterfeit. They have been selling a LOT of them on eBay since the find so they are well known but like the "test issue" card more of a novelty than anything.

I am aware of what the card is and isn't from reading a lot of the threads here and also reading Jon's site. I understand your position on the card and why. I doubt anyone will ever know exactly how it was produced and by who. I am aware that the find was about 1500 total cards. I am curious to know if there is general knowledge as to who the buyer of the find is and how many are known to be in circulation (which I realize is really hard to know). I don't ever intend to get it graded. I think it is a very interesting card with an fascinating story and I wanted to get a couple for my collection after I learned about it. I appreciate your response.
AJS

[steve B]

I'd like to get one, but not at the 800 they're asking for a PSA9.

Really interesting card for a lot of reasons.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by steve B

I'd like to get one, but not at the 800 they're asking for a PSA9.

Really interesting card for a lot of reasons.

Here is one listed for $49 delivered and I can guarantee the seller has many many many more. https://www.ebay.com/itm/29726255591...Bk9SR8jXzL7QZQ

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I disagree with some of the opinions on the website linked above. To me the lower photos show all the classic signs of being photographic reproductions. Fine lines not reproducing correctly is almost always a dead giveaway.

fleer1.jpg

Bottom picture look at the lines that make up the oval with RBI in it and the number 15

fleer2.jpg

Too many inconsistencies to even start pointing them out. Almost every fine line is jacked.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I disagree with some of the opinions on the website linked above. To me the lower photos show all the classic signs of being photographic reproductions. Fine lines not reproducing correctly is almost always a dead giveaway.

Attachment 659480

Bottom picture look at the lines that make up the oval with RBI in it and the number 15

Attachment 659481

Too many inconsistencies to even start pointing them out. Almost every fine line is jacked.

Couldn't agree more but I have been saying it is a counterfeit for over a decade.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I disagree with some of the opinions on the website linked above. To me the lower photos show all the classic signs of being photographic reproductions. Fine lines not reproducing correctly is almost always a dead giveaway.

Attachment 659480

Bottom picture look at the lines that make up the oval with RBI in it and the number 15

Attachment 659481

Too many inconsistencies to even start pointing them out. Almost every fine line is jacked.

And that's where it gets strange. It shows tons of signs on the back of being a straight photographic reproduction.
But, if that's what it was the screening of the gray on the back would match exactly. And it doesn't. It's more coarse and on a different angle. And it's not recreeened from an original card, if it was the screening would be messed up in many ways because the original pattern and the new pattern wouldn't match.
So what the heck was that new halftone screened from?

There are loads of odd things like that.

I do also think it's fake, at one time I suspected a special run for HSN or something like that. But whoever did it put in a lot of effort that's not typical of fakes.