Resources on identifying nonauthentic cards

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Posted By: Hankron

Offering more practical advice for 19th century cards:

1) Other than the Just So Tobacco and (I beleive, correct me if I'm wrong) N300 Mayo, no 19th century card cataloged in SCD or Beckett has a tiny dot pattern throughout the image, like on a modern Topps card or magazine picture. In an Allen & Ginter there may be a few dots as part of the design, but if there is a tiny and consistant dot pattern throughout the entire image, it's a counterfeit. If an Old Judge has such a dot pattern, it's a reprint.

2) A black light is cheap, easy to use and will quickly identify many modern reprints and fakes. See article at:
http://cycleback.com/blacklight.htm

3) Never buy online a high end old trading card, CDV or cabinet card that has obviously clipped corners that the seller describes as ‘natural corner wear.’ It’s a good bet the card is a counterfeit.

Some counterfeiters use their home computer printers to make reprints of expensive old cards. They will usually try to make the item look old, typically by staining and roughing it up. Apparently, one of the most difficult things for the home counterfeiter is to make corners that look naturally and evenly rounded as if by age. They often diagonally clip off the corners with a scissors and rough it up a bit. Despite the best attempts, the corners can remain obviously clipped.

Some genuine items do have clipped corners, but a legitimate seller won’t mistake it for natural rounding.

4) Many (not all) reprints simply don't look right, even in an online picutre. Often, comparing to a picture of an authentic form a MastroNet catalog or such will help identify a card as a reprint. Many folks on this board are Grade A references for identifying online reprints.

5) Legitimate sellers back up what they sell, and offer reasonable return terms. Life's too short to deal with eBay sellers who say "All sales are final", "I cannot authenticate."

6) Find good sellers and buy from them, especially when buying something esoteric, rare and/or expensive.