Alterations - Same subject different thread (by accident)

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Posted By: Corey R. Shanus

Going beyond the issue of alteration, something this Board has discussed numerous times in various threads, what I fear perhaps even more is out and out counterfeiting, which I think we would be naive to feel can/will not happen. This is something I have discussed since the mid-80s, when card prices were considerably lower. I don't think it bears mentioning that 20+ years later, with card prices astronomically higher, the threat is greater.

Why am I so concerned about this? The history of the human race tells us that where there is an economic incentive to make a dishonest buck, somebody out there will try to do it. I have no doubt that while I am writing this post somebody is thinking how to make fake plates, use papers and inks that will pass forensic scrutiny, and produce counterfeit T206s that will look (even down to the microscopic dot matrix pattern) as good as the real ones. With gem mint commons going for $10k and HOFers for potentially 6 figures, the economic incentive is certainly there. Or what about cards where excellent condition will fetch well into six figures? A counterfeiter need not produce 9s and 10s to make a killing.

So what do we do about this? In my view we start with awareness. Second, since undoubtedly a counterfeiter, if going to the trouble to counterfeit the cards, would also take the trouble to counterfeit grading company holders to insert the cards into, grading companies should keep good records of the serial numbers on their holders and be willing to confirm to potential purchasers that the serial number in fact matches the player, issue and condition of the card. Third, we should place extra importance on provenance. Just being able to document that a particular card was in somebody's collection, say, in 1980 would be of tremendous comfort since the risk of counterfeiting was presumably less then.

By making this post I wish to stress that I'm not a doomsayer predicating the collapse of the hobby. I love collecting and in no way feel this threat means all are cards about to become worthless, or indeed will suffer any depreciation in value. I just don't want people to become complacent that a skilled counterfeiter cannot produce cards that as a practical matter could pass muster with even the most skilled experts.