Has anyone been able to remove a fake Sharpie auto from an old card?

[Republicaninmass]

I've seen inscriptions/personalization removed, so it is possible.

Famously 2 1990 george Bush signed topps cards sold and appeared shortly thereafter without inscriptions
Only 2 signed copies I've ever seen, forever tainted

[WhatsNext]

Not possible on 60s/70s cards. Very easy to do with modern (2000ish-present) cards.

[JollyElm]

Added a scan to the mix. Guess I'll see what I can do on the 1974 Mays card ('worth' the least) sometime soon, but don't have any hope of anything being improved...unless someone can tell me they had success with this scenario before.

Might just have to sell them all for parts.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Not even worth the attempt on older cards. As someone noted above, it's an entirely different scenario from the ultra-glossy, modern world. Anything you try will only make it worse.

[jad22]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Not even worth the attempt on older cards. As someone noted above, it's an entirely different scenario from the ultra-glossy, modern world. Anything you try will only make it worse.

Exactly correct. They dry erase marker removal that works on photos would never work on any of the older cards. I think it would definitely work on the newer stuff only.

[JollyElm]

The weird thing is, although it seems to be accepted that Willie Mays had a ghost signer (wife?), it's hard to ignore that the word "Mays" seems to be entirely consistent with the way his authenticated (past few decades) autograph is written, and the basic structure of those loops on the 'W' and 'M' seem to be the earliest version of what his signature became. The 'W' loop eventually turning into what looks like a capital 'T.'

I know, I know, perhaps it's wishful thinking, but I've never been convinced that all of those somewhat flamboyant TTM autographs were fakes.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

It is wishful thinking. Don't waste another second hoping for the impossible--on either ink removal or on the notion that Willie Mays touched any of your cards.

[mrmopar]

I suppose although nothing like the real thing, these cards have their own following. I have a bunch of Don Zimmer cards that were apparently wife signed. I won't try to alter them or toss them.

I think a wife/ghost signed card in good shape is better looking than any of these off condition tattered cards some people seem to like. I can understand a rare/obscure card to take in whatever condition, but some of these are so beat up or damaged that buying them makes zero sense to me. It's OK to have a card with the team scratched out and a new one written in by some 60s kid, but a nice cursive signature (albeit not the player) is just unacceptable!

Just get a reprint was my thought at first. However, it can't be about the look of the card (because some are so hideous, you might go blind looking at them), but more the actual ownership of what was once the card in its glory.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

It is wishful thinking. Don't waste another second hoping for the impossible--on either ink removal or on the notion that Willie Mays touched any of your cards.

Without hope, a man has nothing.