Is this 1915 CJ Merkle Authentic?

[JJ McGraw]

Is this Merkle authentic? The color seems weird, maybe it’s just the light and photo. Anyway, any input would help
Thanks!

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by JJ McGraw

Is this Merkle authentic? The color seems weird, maybe it’s just the light and photo. Anyway, any input would help
Thanks!

I agree with your gut, I don't like it. Here it is on the left next to a PSA example on the right ...

[JJ McGraw]

Oh yes Rob….night and day, thank you very much. He wants $149 on eBay, but said he’d take $80. With your comparison, it almost looks like it is painted with watercolors….weird

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Paper looks too thick. You can see it with crease.

.....but after seeing better pics, I think this might be legit.

[JJ McGraw]

Agreed, thank you

[CrackaJackKid]

It’s 100% real. The dead giveaway is the texture of the cardstock on the back.

[Lucas00]

One of the hardest things for reprinters/forgers etc. To copy is shadows. This is 1000% not original. Look at the shadows on his folded clothing, under his hat on his face. How crisp and realistic they are on the real example, how they make his clothing come alive and his face look real. And compare with how terrible and grainy they become on the reprint/fake. It takes really good printing equipment to make such fine details shine.

That's not mentioning everything else wrong.

[Lucas00]

Using Rob Gs comparison photo I'll circle the weird shadows on his arms and face. If it's real it's a crazy print anomaly. I mean his jersey stripes literally look like somebody shaded them in with a pencil compared to the 2 examples that are good. His face looks like a mime that went crazy with eyeliner.

I also noticed the before and after photos a black mark on his face disappeared. This card must've been stored in a toolbox.