Tell Tale Signs of Reproductions

[Tennis13]

Originally Posted by rtsmith18

I have been intrigued by the lengths people take to make reproductions. Beyond tea stains, misspellings, scratches on certain letters, and card discoloration, what else do people look for when they examine non-graded vintage cards?

So my dad bought a Jordan Fleer rookie back in 1993 or so. We had it in our possession ever since. Bought it at a reputable local FLORIDA dealer. Got it graded at National and came back fake.

The SGC guy said Florida is a transient state, a lot of transplants and people passing through, and is known for fakes. Thats purely qualitative and could be BS but makes sense to me. Like the olden days (early 1990s) some dude shows up with a box of good stuff, sells it off into circulation, and until some guy gets it graded 25 years later, its in the hobby as legit.

Like I would have sold it and never thought twice that it was a fake, except that that card is known for fakes, but even back in the early 1990s, that thing would have cost a pretty penny to fake given technology. I was shocked it was a fake but totally understand how.

[swarmee]

Most of the original Jordan fakes were easy to spot, because of the use of only one yellow shade in the Fleer streamer. Real ones have two shades of yellow, one for the straight "Premier" part, and another for the arrow part.


1986-87 Fleer - [Base] #57 - Michael Jordan [BGS*8]
Courtesy of COMC.com

Did you even compare it prior to grading?

[Buythatcard]

What kind of equipment would someone need to reproduce a box like that? I would assume that the equipment alone would cost more than what the box would fetch.

If this was the real thing, what would it be worth?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

What kind of equipment would someone need to reproduce a box like that? I would assume that the equipment alone would cost more than what the box would fetch.

If this was the real thing, what would it be worth?

If you are referring to the Bazooka box the guy posting said $2000 is what he would pay for one.

They would be very easy to make. There are a few of us on this forum that make custom/fantasy pieces that are way harder to make than just making a copy of something.

[irv]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Most of the original Jordan fakes were easy to spot, because of the use of only one yellow shade in the Fleer streamer. Real ones have two shades of yellow, one for the straight "Premier" part, and another for the arrow part.

Did you even compare it prior to grading?

I don't pay much attention to Jordan RC's, but that info is good to know.

I assume, by you saying "original Jordan fakes" that with the newer fakes, that has been corrected?

[swarmee]

There are many webpages to help you tell the difference between Jordan rookies and the fakes; I believe there have been multiple versions. You just have to search for them.