Fakes, Forgeries and the Future of Card Collecting

[curch]

I myself am in the market for a PSA 1 52 Mantle and I do worry as well. I am 35 years old and grew up in an era of 80's cards. Totally different from the vintage stuff. Is it possible to have a graded fake?

Joe

[Leon]

Originally Posted by curch

Is it possible to have a graded fake?

Joe

Absolutely. I have seen them from PSA but haven't from SGC or Beckett...though they might have happened.

There are some reprints, labeled as such, and graded...which is always sort of odd to me .

[curch]

well thats just great! I like the PSA holders the best. So whats one to do? I don't really feel like spending 2 to 3 grand on a Mantle and not even know if its fake.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by curch

well thats just great! I like the PSA holders the best. So whats one to do? I don't really feel like spending 2 to 3 grand on a Mantle and not even know if its fake.

It would be an extreme rarity for any of the main 3, 3rd party graders, to grade a fake. A very remote, extreme one, at that. Now, do they miss other things more frequently? Most certainly. Perhaps you are worrying about the wrong thing? As you get to know cards better you will be able to tell, a fake from a real one, easier. best regards

[curch]

I really don't know if you are going to fake a card you would do it in that poor of condition, but I guess you never know.

[tedzan]

In the past, both PSA and SGC have graded T206 cards that were re-backed (or re-fronted). These "fakes" were good enough
to fool the graders. The only reason they were detected, is that these cards were impossible front / back combos. The follow-
ing are some examples......

Cobb (bat off shoulder) / PIEDMONT 150
Joe Doyle (error card) / POLAR BEAR
Matty (portrait) / Red HINDU
Cobb (green portrait) / Red HINDU


Do not underestimate what a professional paper restorer can achieve with any type of BB card.


TED Z

[oaks1912]

IMO, the two best pieces of advice in this thread are....From Steve B....3) "The very best way to avoid fakes is to handle and I mean physically without slabs or sleeves or anything a bunch of whatever you want to collect. I'd want to experience a few hundred 52 topps before I bought a Mantle. Or a bunch of T206s before buying a high grade HOFer. Rare cards are a bit tougher, but handling a good number of original old cards will give you a feel for what's real or not and just how old a printed item is"................ From Ted Z ....."Do not underestimate what a professional paper restorer can achieve with any type of BB card."....... I might add to Teds quote that ALL paper (comic books, World Series programs, tickets, etc) can be restored..... Wherever big dollars become involved (Baseball cards,Coins, Classic Cars, Real Estate, Mortgage brokers,etc) fraud will follow. If you don't understand what you are buying, don't buy it. There is no substitute for experience, in any field, and often times those who jump in over their head too swiftly, will have the quickest "education"