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Titans74
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What are the tell tale things to look for when trying to determine real from reprint or counterfeit on these two card?
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How to spot fake 1933 #181 Goudey Ruth and 1934 Gehrig?
- Thread starter Titans74
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200lbhockeyplayer
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- Aug 10, 2008
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Know the issues.
If you don't own a single 1933 or 1934 Goudey, you shouldn't be dropping any serious money on either in a raw state. Once you have one in hand, reprints are obvious
If you don't own a single 1933 or 1934 Goudey, you shouldn't be dropping any serious money on either in a raw state. Once you have one in hand, reprints are obvious
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Titans74
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What are some of the keys areas to scrutinize to determine a reprint/counterfeit from an authentic '33 Ruth and '34 Gehrig? Thanks.
fkw
New member
Like "200lbhokeyplayer" said its best to know the issue first. Buy some commons and take a look at how they were made, and how they wear. The R319 and R320 sets are highly reprinted especially the stars like Ruth and Gehrig.
There are over a dozen different types of reprints, and then there are also the homemade fakes which are the toughest to spot.
If you post scans It would be easier to help.
Basic info, the R319 reprints tend to have 2-3 of the image edges cropped when they designed the reprints, this will chop off the ends of the red strip on cards that have the red strip making it flush with the background..... unlike authentic cards where the red strip is ever so slightly longer or shorter than the background above it.
Also many authentic cards have wet ink transfer on back, and the color of the green on back is another clue, some reprints have the wrong shade ink, and the ink is too bold, most easily seen by comparing letters with holes ie. "a" "b" "e" etc. Another place to look is between the words GOUDEY GUM CO and BOSTON, some reprint will have scuff/glue damage in this area to cover up the spot that said "reprint"
Basic info for R320 reprints, many of the same characteristics as with R319 but because they cropped the edges of the image, the line below Gehrigs smaller portrait will be thinner or missing. Also the bottom of the "Y" in "Says" will be missing as well. The green on back will be a different shade.
There are over a dozen different types of reprints, and then there are also the homemade fakes which are the toughest to spot.
If you post scans It would be easier to help.
Basic info, the R319 reprints tend to have 2-3 of the image edges cropped when they designed the reprints, this will chop off the ends of the red strip on cards that have the red strip making it flush with the background..... unlike authentic cards where the red strip is ever so slightly longer or shorter than the background above it.
Also many authentic cards have wet ink transfer on back, and the color of the green on back is another clue, some reprints have the wrong shade ink, and the ink is too bold, most easily seen by comparing letters with holes ie. "a" "b" "e" etc. Another place to look is between the words GOUDEY GUM CO and BOSTON, some reprint will have scuff/glue damage in this area to cover up the spot that said "reprint"
Basic info for R320 reprints, many of the same characteristics as with R319 but because they cropped the edges of the image, the line below Gehrigs smaller portrait will be thinner or missing. Also the bottom of the "Y" in "Says" will be missing as well. The green on back will be a different shade.
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Titans74
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Thank you fkw.
RiceLynnEvans75
Active member
One thing I always look for on raw '33 Goudey is the back/bottom of the card. If you can see a light faded red bar across the bottom, it's pretty much certain it's real. Something having to do with when they were printed and the sheets came out and put on top of the previous sheet where the ink wasn't completely dry yet. The red bar would be from the front/bottom of the cards. I realize some don't have that bar on the front though so this doesn't apply to them obviously.
vintagerookies51
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I don't know if this will help at all but I have an older "homemade" reprint of a 1933 goudey babe ruth and a 1933 Goudey Gehrig graded by SGC. I compared the backs of the 2 and found this:
-The back is lighter on the reprint
-The writing of the number of the card(for Lou Gehrig it says -No. 92-) is thinner on the reprint and the lines to the side of that # are thinner and shorter on the reprint as well
-All of the writing is a lighter, more new-looking green on the reprint
- The names under the # of the card and above the team are the easiest to notice. In my authentic Gehrig, the letters of the name are really spread out, but in the Ruth the letters are way closer together.
- The lines under the player bios on reprints are off. (One of them starts farther away from the edge, one of them is smudged at the end and so on)
and lastly- The circled "G and CO." in the bottom-right corner of the back is thinner, more clear, and more of a solid line.
-The back is lighter on the reprint
-The writing of the number of the card(for Lou Gehrig it says -No. 92-) is thinner on the reprint and the lines to the side of that # are thinner and shorter on the reprint as well
-All of the writing is a lighter, more new-looking green on the reprint
- The names under the # of the card and above the team are the easiest to notice. In my authentic Gehrig, the letters of the name are really spread out, but in the Ruth the letters are way closer together.
- The lines under the player bios on reprints are off. (One of them starts farther away from the edge, one of them is smudged at the end and so on)
and lastly- The circled "G and CO." in the bottom-right corner of the back is thinner, more clear, and more of a solid line.
ThoseBackPages
New member
buy a raw one, and you have a great shot at owning a fake
RiceLynnEvans75
Active member
ThoseBackPages said:
You'll have an even better shot if you buy one that was sitting in Grandpa's attic for the last 70 years.
vintagerookies51
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RiceLynnEvans75 said:
:lol: This made me remember something. There was this seller on eBay awhile ago that had about a dozen old reprint cards. For every description, he said he has had them for over 60 years. Sure, he had a '33 Ruth, some T206 cards and some others but he also had a 1952 Jackie Robinson. This was in 2008 I believe and since when was that a 60+ year old card? :lol:
