help with Negro League/Pitts Crawfords photo

[Brian]

Just noticed that this photo was shrunk to oblivion when posting....if anyone has a suggestion for posting what was originally a 2.2 MB file (I took a screen shot), that would be great. Alternatively, I could email scans to anyone interested....Thanks.

[Jobu]

Hopefully this copy will be larger.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Brian:

Unfortunately, it looks like you have a fake there. These types of photos have appeared on eBay quite a bit over the past several years. Many originated out of Ohio and usually pucture one of the great NL teams of the ‘30’s, either the Pittsburgh Crawfords or Honestead Grays. If you want to send me a high res. scan, I can probably confirm for you. If so, maybe you can still get your money back if you act quickly.

[packs]

It has that fuzzy look of a reproduction. An original print would be sharp.

[Brian]

Thanks, guys, and that is what I feared.
I thought the fuzziness might have resulted from blowing up a smaller photo.
For example, if you take a look at the original type I photo that sold at REA,

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../#&gid=1&pid=2

you will see that this REA photo is also quite fuzzy.

Unfortunately, I cannot scan the photo (I got the scan from the seller) as my scanner is not working.
I had my doubts about it but did not pay a huge amount. Still, disappointing to hear of all the fakes out there.

[packs]

The REA photo isn't fuzzy to me, maybe just a little worn. If you enlarge the photo the player's faces are all very clear and crisp. That's what I look for when I'm trying to figure out if a photo is original or not.

[Brian]

Well, maybe 'fuzzy' was the wrong term, but the REA photo does seem a bit washed out and a little out of focus, which is why I wondered about the original negative off of which both that photo and mine were based.

In any case, whoever made the photo in question definitely used old paper, 40s-50s era based on comparisons with the many other photos I have from that period and earlier (and later). It is definitely a bit 'fuzzier' than the REA photo, without a doubt.