My proposed hobby book...........................

[theseeker]

Originally Posted by brob28

What I'd like to see is a book showing all the known reprints sets with tips on how to identify them vs. the original cards. If not for anything else it would make it harder for the scammers out there to sell the reprints as originals.

I don't know about that, don't all the legitimate reprint sets (and by legitimate I mean that they were print for the expressed purpose of being used as reprints) have instantly identifiable markings and/or size variations from the originals? But a book that would include helping to identify some of the better made fakes that are floating around would be very helpful.

[Rich Klein]

Always worth doing the research. A booklet is not a bad idea, go for it, understand you will not sell a lot of copies so either be ready to do this for a loss Or do a job like Adam does and charge enough $$$ to understand that is your audience.

Rich

[Volod]

Originally Posted by theseeker

I don't know about that, don't all the legitimate reprint sets (and by legitimate I mean that they were print for the expressed purpose of being used as reprints) have instantly identifiable markings and/or size variations from the originals? But a book that would include helping to identify some of the better made fakes that are floating around would be very helpful.

Good point John - Apparently, many newbies confuse the two simply because the reprint sets are not all that common and so assume they were printed as exact duplications.

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Volod

Good point John - Apparently, many newbies confuse the two simply because the reprint sets are not all that common and so assume they were printed as exact duplications.

Guys, I and many other newbies know about the reprint sets but I've seen a lot of those reprint cards that were later altered to look like originals. If there is information to help the newb's identify any items like this isn't it better for all in the hobby? A book with info on the better or more frequent fakes would be great part to that book. The knowledge I've gained from the many knowledgeable people on this and other forums has helped me and others numerous times but all this information in one source would be great, in my humble newbie opinion.

[Volod]

Didn't mean to characterize anyone with the term, newbie - was just pointing out what may be a misperception by collectors not too familiar with reprint sets. The fakes produced from reprints that I have seen were mostly very obvious. They usually involved just erasing the reprint copyright line or photoshopping a facsimile of a genuine copyright line over it. This might be enough to fool a rather naive buyer not familiar with the genuine article, but such other indicators of fakery, such as the size, cardstock and coloration would, or should, be immediate tip-offs, even to a hobby novice. I wonder if illustrations of counterfeits could help as much as simply knowing what a genuine card looks and feels like.

[brob28]

I agree Steve, I've seen a lot of bad attempts at erasing copyrights etc. Nothing will ever be as good as actually handling a card in person. I'll admit to being a newb when it comes to pre-war and getting farmiliar with some of the sets is part of my battle. One article I read decscribed in detail the method of printing used to create the gold borders on T205's and what to look for in originals. It has been priceless to me because it not only helps me authenticate cards but also helps when identifying alterations. This is the type of information I'm thinking about. If there was a book to pass this information on it would be a great benefit to the newer collectors. I do agree with you though, that there are somethings that are, and should be obvious to a collector. As an example I believe the 52 Topps reprint set cards are smaller than the originals. Anyway, no offense at the Newb remark, I am a pre-war newb and I'm starved for information to jump into the pre-world/turn of the century world with my eys open.

Cheers,

[Bob Lemke]

Back in the early-mid 1990s we (SCD) published a book with every known counterfeit card. That was in the days before everyone had scanners and laser printers. There were probably 50-75 or so. We had detailed microphotos and other information on how to spot each known fake.

I think the book had a cover price of $19.95. If it prevented a dealer or collector from getting stuck with just one fake card, he would have more than made up the cost.

I believe there were three editions and I doubt if 5,000 copies in total were ever sold. And this was at a time when it was believed there were 20,000+ brick-and-mortar card shops in operation around the U.S.A.

In one of the editions, we DID have a list of known reprint sets, as well; the Larry Fritsch Cards sets, Galasso, Card Collectors Co., etc.

On a different note . . .

When I was doing the Standard Catalog, I began compiling checklists of the many 1980s-1990s "broder" sets, both the actual Broder-produced cards and the many imitators. Information, especially complete checklists, was not so easy to come by in those pre-internet/eBay days, but I had information on about 50 such sets.

They were entered into the book's data base, but the information was never published.

[theseeker]

#13 Today, 04:09 PM
Bob Lemke
Bob Lemke
Member Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Iola, Wis.
Posts: 374

Good luck, but . . .

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"Back in the early-mid 1990s we (SCD) published a book with every known counterfeit card. That was in the days before everyone had scanners and laser printers. There were probably 50-75 or so. We had detailed microphotos and other information on how to spot each known fake.

I think the book had a cover price of $19.95. If it prevented a dealer or collector from getting stuck with just one fake card, he would have more than made up the cost.

I believe there were three editions and I doubt if 5,000 copies in total were ever sold. And this was at a time when it was believed there were 20,000+ brick-and-mortar card shops in operation around the U.S.A.

In one of the editions, we DID have a list of known reprint sets, as well; the Larry Fritsch Cards sets, Galasso, Card Collectors Co., etc"

Would you happen to know the title of the book and which edition had the list of the known reprint set? Mr Lemke......anyone...........