Opinions about a strange m101-4/5 card

[nolemmings]

Thanks Leon. Maybe the white on the bottom doesn't show as much on the scan. I'll try and bring the card to the National for some up-close opinions. The card is just so different with its matte finish that I just dismissed it as not genuine but then I keep thinking of how strange it came to me at such a modest price and without any fanfare or puffing and I'm not sure. Here are my other Cady's for comparison--note too how they all seem to have some coloring or tone to them that is lacking from the subject:

[Leon]

I would like to study it in person Todd. Please do bring it to the National if you can remember to. What I proposing as a possibility is that the gloss AND the number might have been missed in the regular production process. It's just a thought and one that might make sense. I know we have seen steps of production missed in other cards. These E195s never got cut....

And I should add, after looking at the original card more, it does look to be different colored where the number should have been. That is not usually a good sign.

[buymycards]

Hi Todd, it does seem strange that most of the card is discolored/toned except for the white area under the team name. I would vote "altered" but I would want to see the card under a 100 power microscope and a black light before making a decision.

Hope it is real.

Rick

[Jason Carota]

If it isn't altered, any chance it could be tied to the 1916 unnumbered Successful Farming set (as mentioned above?) Granted Cady isn't on the checklist. My thoughts lay along the lines of the existing teams available in the unnumbered set (Philadelphia AL & NL, Chicago AL & NL, Boston NL, and New York AL.) Could there exist the outside possibility that cards featuring Boston AL and New York NL were to be produced, but later scrapped?

[smtjoy]

Interesting card and thread Todd. The color difference where the numbers were would be a big concern for sure, imo the money difference between his M101-4 and m101-5 is huge and the temptation to alter would make a lot of sense. The matte finish also bothers me as I have never seen one like that, Leons reply in another thread had me wondering about soaking these. I have never tried it so no idea on what would happen. I also know others will soak cards in chemicals and have great success removing stuff. It makes me wonder if it could lose the gloss in a chemical bath, I dont know but seems possible to me.

I think its a cool card and at what you paid well worth keeping in your collection. I do think it warrants letting experts look at it, I personally would not attach much more value to it than you paid as I think it has two big red flags.