Failed The Light Test

[Cardboard Junkie]

Yeah, that's a quality copy of a "real" 311. The white paper stock is all wrong and I would be willing to bet that it is a thin stock too. Great looking copy, when "they" get the stock right, things will get tougher.

[a761506]

I do believe I inadvertently created this "light test" the seller speaks of. About 10 years ago when the scammers were raking on eBay, I ran this online manual dedicated to helping people avoid being swindled on a '52 Mantle (which apparently wound up being well-read within the hobby). I figured out by holding a flashlight directly to the surface of a '52 Topps card that no light will penetrate the card. The best of the bogus cards were printed on stock that let the light go right through it. So, now it appears there is this thing called a "light test" that every '52 Mantle wanna-be fraudster has to pass.

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks for shedding light on that term Josh

[the 'stache]

Josh, I read it, and refer people to it occasionally when trying to demonstrate the differences between the type A and B variations.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by a761506

I do believe I inadvertently created this "light test" the seller speaks of. About 10 years ago when the scammers were raking on eBay, I ran this online manual dedicated to helping people avoid being swindled on a '52 Mantle (which apparently wound up being well-read within the hobby). I figured out by holding a flashlight directly to the surface of a '52 Topps card that no light will penetrate the card. The best of the bogus cards were printed on stock that let the light go right through it. So, now it appears there is this thing called a "light test" that every '52 Mantle wanna-be fraudster has to pass.

I've read that guide too - that's really cool. You're kind of a big deal.

[a761506]

Thanks guys, that made my day. I actually consider the book one of the more significant accomplishments in my life. Not-so-much the content, but the idea that well over 5,000 people have read it (I just checked for the first time in several years and the counter on the site registers at 10,781, although I'm sure they aren't all unique), and in less than 2 years, it put the kibosh on almost every single attempted '52 Mantle scam.

[CW]

Looks like the site is still up. Is this it?

http://home.comcast.net/~52mantle/52toppsmantlefake.htm

Cool site!

[a761506]

That is one page of the site. This is the main page.

http://home.comcast.net/~52mantle

[CW]

Very cool, thanks. I remember visiting that years ago....