Detecting Archives and Reprints
 

Posted By: <b>Brent Hunsaker</b><p>Is there a good website that would describe the best way to detect a vintage card vs. a reprint? Does anyone have any good pointers on detecting them? I am mostly interested in Topps baseball cards from the 50's.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Brent Hunsaker

Detecting Archives and Reprints
 

Posted By: <b>hankron</b><p>Your best bet is to get a big pile of low grade 1950s Topps for study and comparison. There's no better education than owning and handling the real stuff. With enough hands on experience a reprint will stand out like a Xerox in the Louvre.<BR><BR>Minimally most of the official Topps reprints ('archives', etc) are on super smooth glossy stock, with the exact same gloss back and front. The backs of all the original 1950s-70s Topps regular cards are rough, fibery cardboard that has less gloss than the fronts.

Detecting Archives and Reprints
 

Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Thank you for taking the time to offer some helpful advice.