Real or Fake?

[steve B]

If they're proofs like the REA description says they could all be hand cut.
This one, also from REA doesn't match their other one, although it's still a bit more shaped than the one on Ebay
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...n/2004/48.html

Steve B

[Matthew H]

Another thing that bothers me, he sold a "Golden Sporting Shoes Ty Cobb AD counter display" for 255$ Check his feedback. I am assuming that there's only one kind of display mentioned and it's worth quite a bit more than 255. On the bright side the feedback reads, "Good seller. I needed to cancel transaction and I got refunded without hassle."

[steve B]

Odd, he's also sold one of these, and has another or the same one up now.
Fantasy piece? Real?
http://cgi.ebay.com/BABE-RUTH-RED-RO...item27bb0e06dc

Making stuff like that is pretty difficult technically, not everyone has access to a die cutting press. But having more than one of them in that sort of condition and taking only $250 for it seems odd. He seems to have a number of interesting advertising pieces, maybe too many. Although he could have found a stash of stuff from someone who worked for a company that printed the ad pieces. Unlikely though since there aren't any for boring products or that don't include a major celebrity.

Rethinking things and assuming fakes and fantasy pieces, the technical sophistication of the stuff is impressive. Plus the restraint of the sellers is also impressive. Stuff like that is usually tripped up by someone deciding to wholesale it instead of selling one here and there.

Steve B

[Leon]

It might be good but I am a bit skeptical. The lithography looks kind of washed out compared with others I have seen. I would require a guarantee on something like that before I bought it. regards

[Jaybird]

I would think that this was returned by the previous bidder. So, that makes me even more nervous. If it was returned once and then relisted, why did that person send it back?

It could also be that the person never paid but it makes me wonder.

[GoldenAge50s]

Colors too washed out to suit me---nothing vivid or stand-outish like I would expect. Hans likeness very undefined.

[bobbvc]

Better Scans...

[teetwoohsix]

Originally Posted by steve B

Odd, he's also sold one of these, and has another or the same one up now.
Fantasy piece? Real?
http://cgi.ebay.com/BABE-RUTH-RED-RO...item27bb0e06dc

Making stuff like that is pretty difficult technically, not everyone has access to a die cutting press. But having more than one of them in that sort of condition and taking only $250 for it seems odd. He seems to have a number of interesting advertising pieces, maybe too many. Although he could have found a stash of stuff from someone who worked for a company that printed the ad pieces. Unlikely though since there aren't any for boring products or that don't include a major celebrity.

Rethinking things and assuming fakes and fantasy pieces, the technical sophistication of the stuff is impressive. Plus the restraint of the sellers is also impressive. Stuff like that is usually tripped up by someone deciding to wholesale it instead of selling one here and there.

Steve B

This is just regarding this piece, not the cigar label........

Two days ago I was in a local antique mall and they had a tin type wall advertising sign with this identical print on it.....I flipped it over and on the backside it said it was made in 1991.........

I don't know either way about the bottle-topper piece as far as if it's real or not,,,,but it was coincidental that I saw that sign right after reading this thread

[steve B]

Looking at the detailed scans I'd have to think fake too. A bit less impressive than if they'd done the embossing, but still a pretty detailed fake. The metallic ink isn't easy at all. I'd love to be able to compare the screning of the picture area to an original to see just how close they got.

I'm pretty sure it's based on the top one of the genuine examples. The registration of the "embossing" looks very similar, and it has the same extra red mark in the border at the right tip.
It looks like the one in the original auction is the same as well.

Reproducing identifiable details in source material is a common mistake of fakers, and one we should be happy about.

Steve B