1928 Fro Joy Babe Ruth - Authentic?

[Clutch-Hitter]

Leon, "patina" seems right and was a good word choice. It appears a definite authentic has a brown undertone, under the white.

As far as cards being printed on various paper stocks back then, I have a set of W517's (minus four), some with several variations. The thickness, color, etc of the paper varies variation to variation.

Another thing about the card in question, the Ruth's Grip #5, is that it has a strong vintage odor.

A Ruth collector in Maryland has a set of authentic factory cut singles in Beckett holders, and his neighbor has some too. Overall, he's handled approx twenty. When I spoke to him about it, he said the paper is more like a '33 Goudey and less like a '34 Goudey. He explained why he said that, but just out of curiosity, do y'all know why?

I have an E121 type card and '33 Goudeys, so I'll get some comparison work done with them today.

A Goudey Ruth in PSA 3 is an awesome card, but even so this card is easily the most stunning I've ever owned.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Clayton, I saw your post after I posted, so it was interesting you mentioned the undertone. The "...Grip" card is old, smells old, etc.

I'm about to do some work with my Tunney Fro Joy and the others mentioned.

Clayton, both of these also have strong vintage odors. The first black and white fake was sold by a guy who claimed he bought it c. 1980, and I tend to believe him. Both are singles from fake sheets.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Here's the card in question between an E121 (poor condition) and a 1928 Yeungling (poor condition):




Here it is between a '33 Goudey and a '27 Fro Joy Tunney:




And the next is very interesting. Between 1970's fakes: