Is this PSA 9 Bill Ripken a counterfiet?

[bnorth]

I recently run across another of these "Mystery Cards" like the 2 in the PSA 9 slabs. This one is a little different than the first one I owned because it is on card stock very similar to real 89 Fleer card stock only slightly thinner unlike the much thinner 89UD like card stock the first one was printed on.

Has anyone else seen one of these cards before?

Card on left is what is being called the Mystery Card and one on right is a real 89 Fleer card.

[Bob Lemke]

I see the photo on the "mystery card" is cropped slightly tighter than the "normal" card.

Sorry if this has been mentioned previously; I didn't go ack and read the whole thread.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

I see the photo on the "mystery card" is cropped slightly tighter than the "normal" card.

Sorry if this has been mentioned previously; I didn't go ack and read the whole thread.

Bob I picked up a old copy of your book "Sportscard Counterfeit Detector", Amazing book.

Thanks to it I can now better describe my opinion on the www.billripken.com website about the Mystery card. Still believe that opinion to be 100% correct, now I just know how to convey that opinion much better. My opinion now and always has been this card is counterfeit.

If anybody else have one and if so I would really like to hear your opinion on it.

[jp1216]

Thanks for keeping this thread alive. Here is close up picture of the most noteworthy differences. Not including card stock etc. I always look for the Trademark R on the logo and the MLB logo on the back. The 'FF Mystery' card is on the left and the original FF is on the right in both examples.

[Bob Lemke]

My inexpert opinion is that these differences in logos, trademarks, etc., are the result of the use of more than one printer by Fleer, as they did in 1991.

[jp1216]

I'm no print expert so I'll let others chime in. I just go by what I see. The Orioles logo is clearer than on the original. The trademark R is larger/different. The Ripken photo is cropped slightly different on both. The print dots are different - diagonal vs. horizontal. The back has different MLB logo/font.

It's the only '89 Fleer to show these traits - that I'm aware of. I first became aware of it over 10 years ago. To date, about a dozen have been identified.

Steve B. is currently looking over one of my 'FF Mystery' cards right now.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

My inexpert opinion is that these differences in logos, trademarks, etc., are the result of the use of more than one printer by Fleer, as they did in 1991.

Thank you for you opinion Bob.

Originally Posted by jp1216

It's the only '89 Fleer to show these traits - that I'm aware of. I first became aware of it over 10 years ago. To date, about a dozen have been identified.

Steve B. is currently looking over one of my 'FF Mystery' cards right now.

Can't wait to gets Steve's opinion. I would agree with Jon on the 10-12 that are known in collections, over half are owned by guys I know.

I do have 2 of these and for the right offer I would part with one.