this eBay item made me weep...

[Archive]

Posted By: fkw

There are many many reprint CJs that are on eBay auctioned as originals. Id estimate at least 10-15% at any given time are reprint, sometimes more. All E145-2 reprints are from the 1980s and 90s, never heard of any CJ reprinted in the 50s, thast all a bunch of horse@#%*. There are easy ways to tell the difference. Easiest way if you see the card in person, is to look at the back. All cards from the "176 Picture" series (1915) will have a back that is printed upside down. In other words the top edge of the front is the same edge as the bottom of the back. All fakes dont have this upside down back (at least not yet). Anothewr way to tell is to look at the light/white parts of picture (uniform), on real cards the white parts of uniform is the exact same color as the border (natural paper color) and will always blend into the border where they meet. See the bottom of the E145-2 Mathewson card picture enclosed, and compare it with the reprint on eBay.

The 1915s are out there, I see a few every year on eBay, but like everyone has said the 1914s are very tough, Ive only seen 2-3 on eBay in last 3 years, and a couple of those auctions ended early with someone making an offer the seller took. low/mid grade 1914s will go $1000+ in my opinion, mainly because of the attractive action pose. Good luck. Frank fkw707