Spotting a Reprint

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Posted By: Jim Novotny

I am somewhat new to vintage card collecting and have been learning a lot from this forum. I have read multiple posts where someone has asked about the authenticity of a card and gotten some excellent feedback. What I was wondering is if there is a visual resource, or could a thread be started where board members post examples that show why certain cards are not authentic. Something like an image and a pointer to the tell tale sign that the card is not a reprint. I have particular interest in the T206 and 1934 Goudey sets as they are my first endeavors into vintage collecting. Thanks for any assistance.

Jim

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If you're talking about detecting online, your best bet is to spend time looking at the real cards, in a MastroNet or wherever. Most reprints don't look real in comparison, especially for T206s.

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Posted By: Howie

Go to Ebay and search the closed auctions for 1934 Goudey Gehrig and T206 Cobb. Commons are reprinted too but it's easier to narrow it down to Gehrig and Cobb as you learn what to look for. Compare what graded cards look like with cards that look like they sold way too cheap, especially ones in the $10 to $100 range. Some reprints are left in nice condition but most are beat up and stained to look old. No matter how beat up the reprints are they still have a washed out look to them. If they show you a back picture look for damage in area where REPRINT used to be. Sometimes pictures are purposely bad to make it hard to tell for a novice. If you're thinking about buying ungraded cards in person or online buy some cheap graded commons first and study the printing closely front and back with a magnifier. The better the deal seems to be the more careful you need to be.