If $ were no object...

[4815162342]

I think it would be hard to reproduce that musty smell of old cardboard.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I think it would be hard to reproduce that musty smell of old cardboard.

Not if you use OLD cardboard...

[steve B]

With unlimited resources it would be easy.

I don't think the paper would be all that hard for some series. T206 is just a high rag content cardstock coated on one side.

I actually got out some stuff and checked. I thought comic backing boards were very close to right, but they're .024 of an inch and the one T206 I measured was .012. Next trip to the art store I'll see what they have that's like that.
And no, the backing boards don't react to the blacklight.

Stuff like Goudeys would be a bit harder. The cardboard is still available, but you'd have to do some accelerated aging to duplicate how the cardboard breaks down over time.

Steve B

[Runscott]

You couldn't reproduce a color lithograph card exactly, simply because of the dot patterns - the art was created by hand from photos, we don't have any original art, and even when we have real photo examples the art result would be obviously different under a loupe. I do think we could come so close that you'd have to use a loupe, but with a card like Wagner, you'd use much more than a loupe. Unless, of course, you simply put it in a slab - then it becomes real...like Pinocchio.

Of course, if the Cincinnati twins got hold of a close reprint like this, it would become a million-dollar 'variation'.

[Cardboard Junkie]

Originally Posted by Runscott

You couldn't reproduce a color lithograph card exactly, simply because of the dot patterns - the art was created by hand from photos, we don't have any original art, and even when we have real photo examples the art result would be obviously different under a loupe. I do think we could come so close that you'd have to use a loupe, but with a card like Wagner, you'd use much more than a loupe. Unless, of course, you simply put it in a slab - then it becomes real...like Pinocchio.

Of course, if the Cincinnati twins got hold of a close reprint like this, it would become a million-dollar 'variation'.

Aloha Scott, I'm not sure I understand. Why couldn't each "dot" and "pattern of dots" be reproduced exactly? Why would one need the original "art"? couldn't an original card suffice? I'm talking, (hypothetically of course) of duplicating them on a microscopic level for each and every card in the set. Dave. ps money no object.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Cardboard Junkie

Aloha Scott, I'm not sure I understand. Why couldn't each "dot" and "pattern of dots" be reproduced exactly? Why would one need the original "art"? couldn't an original card suffice? I'm talking, (hypothetically of course) of duplicating them on a microscopic level for each and every card in the set. Dave. ps money no object.

Hi Dave, Find a T206 that has the dots in the background and look at them under a loupe. If you look at two examples of the same card, that dot pattern will still match up perfectly, subject to registration and amount of ink applied. Once you've done that, I think you'll agree with me. But maybe not. Steve might know a way of duplicating the patterns, but I know that the artists who did this were highly-skilled, since they had to mix different colors of dots to come up with a good image.

If you looked at the 1880's lithographs, you'll see what I'm talking about even moreso. I tend to talk 'T206' because that's an issue I know more about.

[Cardboard Junkie]

Hi again Scott, I just don't get what you are saying. I have almost 2,400 t206s and have looked at everyone with a loupe. Have seen many thousands more with a loupe. I have many different power loupes and even a microscope to zero in on paper fibers and edges. T206s (as you know) are comprised of areas of printing dots (matrix) and solid colors (fields). Each "dot" could be replicated. Each solid color could be duplicated. Inks wouldn't be a problem because all the chemicals and pigments can be reproduced. It would be painstaking and tedious work, but completely possible. It would be hard to do but theoretically it COULD be done. Unless I'm just not understanding what you are saying. Dave. ps why do you think the original art work would be necessary?

[EvilKing00]

yes it can be done BUT, I think the only way to coppy it exactly would be if you have the old printing machine, the same ink and the same cardboard. If you have enough money im sure you can find those 3 things.

The ink would be the hardest thing to come bye IMO