New guy here...1952 Mantle...is it legit?

[techkiller]

Actually the grades just posted on their site.....The 52 Mantle was graded "N4 Questionable Authenticity".....my question to all of you....what does that even mean?

[irv]

Originally Posted by techkiller

Actually the grades just posted on their site.....The 52 Mantle was graded "N4 Questionable Authenticity".....my question to all of you....what does that even mean?

Just a guess here but I'd say the info they gathered is inconclusive, meaning they are not 100% sure it is fake but something is there that is telling them not to grade it as real either?

It could be a very good fake or a very poor genuine.

Glad to read it was only $25 bucks for you.

[swarmee]

It means fake, but it also means their lawyers won't let them call it "FAKE" for the 0.001% chance that the card is real.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by techkiller

Actually the grades just posted on their site.....The 52 Mantle was graded "N4 Questionable Authenticity".....my question to all of you....what does that even mean?

It means you can list it on eBay with a picture of the card and the flip and make hundreds of dollars. Seriously.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mant...cAAOSwHNxaQd6S

[Stonepony]

Not surprised at all for the identifying reason I noted in my post

[CW]

Thanks for coming back to fill us in with the results, tech.

[1952boyntoncollector]

At least you will save a lot in grading fees versus if the mantle turned out to be real. You saved a lot there at least.

[homerunderby]

Would have been a nice story if it was real, but 1) '52 Mantle's have been reprinted/faked for 40 years and 2) I'm always suspicious when the ONE card someone "finds in their attic" is a high dollar card. Where are the other '52's in the stash? No wrappers? No other years? Seems ridiculous to me.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by homerunderby

Would have been a nice story if it was real, but 1) '52 Mantle's have been reprinted/faked for 40 years and 2) I'm always suspicious when the ONE card someone "finds in their attic" is a high dollar card. Where are the other '52's in the stash? No wrappers? No other years? Seems ridiculous to me.

Except I've seen something close. (Not 52 Mantle high dollar, but at the time a nice card)
A friend of mine asked if I could check out his collection before he gave it to a family member. Just a quick "oh yeah, can you check out my collection" just before we headed out drinking.
That was a surprise, since I didn't think he even had a collection at all.

I was nearly right - 4 cards, between 71 and 73 including a Schmidt rookie.

I've also come across antique dealers with one card of a star from the 50's. It's less common, but for a while some dealers would buy only a card or two from a collection, or just a single from a random seller.

I got my Baker silk at a coin show that way, it was the only baseball card the dealer had.