Rare 1956 Topps Uncut “Sheet” with Mantle and Mays

[steve B]

I have serious doubts about this.

Lets start by asking why it's full color. since the colors are printed one at a time there should only be one color on the blanket.
Ah, but if it was a multi color press?
All the multi color presses I've seen are basically just longer frame that holds two or more single color press mechanisms.
Some different processes did print stuff like stamps with multiple colors from one plate, but it was sloppy and a totally different process.

Second, leaving the colors on the blanket is horrible practice. We'd wash the blanket down with solvents at least between runs. I guess one might get the colors worn into it, but it seems unlikely that it would survive the washdown at the end of the shift. And I'm not sure 56 topps would have required 3 shifts to get it done.

So I'm not seeing a way this even gets made in a production shop. Mount a blanket, print a color, dismount, remount for the next color..run one pass then swap blankets do that 4 times... No way the boss is letting that level of playing around happen.

[ALR-bishop]

2010….. 19

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by steve B

I have serious doubts about this.

I think your post is very reasonable. The multiple colors included is one of many reasons.

[raulus]

Welp!

Looks like some poor sap got stuck with this piece as the only bidder. Can't decide whether that's just good fortune, or if there was only one person foolish enough to bid on it.

Geez...guess that lucky bidder was me.

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with it.

[swarmee]

Congrats, I guess. If you can debunk it, you might get the company to refund you. If that's what you want. It's definitely a conversation starter piece.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Congrats, I guess. If you can debunk it, you might get the company to refund you. If that's what you want. It's definitely a conversation starter piece.

After I placed my bid, I sent them an email and linked to the concerns raised in this thread. They called me and let me know that they had it authenticated and were confident that it is legit. I’m relying on the AH’s reputation, and I’m hopeful it’s solid. Maybe someday I’ll sell it for 7 figures.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by raulus

After I placed my bid, I sent them an email and linked to the concerns raised in this thread. They called me and let me know that they had it authenticated and were confident that it is legit. I’m relying on the AH’s reputation, and I’m hopeful it’s solid. Maybe someday I’ll sell it for 7 figures.

Who authenticated it and signed off on this?

[Cliff Bowman]

What I wonder is if it is fake how could someone go about making this? Does it match a known sheet of that Series, or is a sheet of that Series even known?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by G1911

Who authenticated it and signed off on this?

They claimed to have taken it to a printer, who authenticated it. They didn't provide additional details beyond this. I wasn't trying to make a federal case out of it. Just wanted to confirm that they had done some diligence, felt really confident about it, and were confirming their confidence to me personally. If they had been uncertain, or hadn't done anything to check it out, then I probably would have pushed harder.

Bottom line for me is that if it's real, then I definitely want it.

If it's a fake, then that's clearly a problem. But if it is fake, then it's not the end of the world. While I'd rather spend my hard-earned cash on legitimate pieces, I guess I'm willing to take a chance on this one. Hopefully I don't get burned.

Amid all that, I also wasn't going to press the issue and demand to retract my bid. It just isn't worth it to me to damage a relationship with the AH. Not after I've already pissed one of them off in spectacular fashion.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Congrats, I guess. If you can debunk it, you might get the company to refund you. If that's what you want. It's definitely a conversation starter piece.

+1 to above.

I am no expert but I agree with Steve in having extremely serious doubts about it being authentic.

[Grigsby]

My curiosity is killing me.

Anyone have a guess what this actually is?

[ALR-bishop]

Hoping something good for Nicolo