Quote:
Originally Posted by drcy
My book linked below has many microscopic images.
Authenticating Early Baseball Cards
Also know that many early non-sports cards used the same printing processes, so getting cheap low-grade non-sport Allen and Ginters, trade and strip cards, caramel cards, etc. are great for samples. |
^^^^^ Yeah, that. Pick up a variety of cards over the years of different types. If they aren't baseball or some other sport, they can be had very cheaply. Most antique shops that aren't higher end specialists will have an assortment of tradecards and other stuff, and if the condition isn't great a common tradecard might be under $1.
The more you see and practice on the more you'll know. And you'll eventually start occasionally seeing stuff that looks "off" although that's actually uncommon with the very cheap stuff. But you will eventually be able to pick a decade somewhat reliably. (There was always that one company that insisted on using the oldest technology possible to produce their catalogs/labels etc)