Was this W-517 a Fake?

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Posted By: Rhett Yeakley

Bob, the theory on W517's is that they were part of a game where you purchased a strip of 3 for a price and if the bottom card in the strip had a colored line on back then you won a prize (different prizes available depending on the color of the strip). I have a Goslin with the color band on back, I will try to get a scan up later. Only the bottom most card in a strip of 3 would exhibit these markings, easy to spot as it should only have the top border trimmed with the bottom factory cut.

My theory (no evidence to support this) is that the same game was played with these cards but instead of using the band on back they remade the cards and the top card in the strip would have a play on it, if you "Struck Out" you didn't win, if you got a "Single", etc. you probably won a prize. Every card with the writing on top is the top-most card in the strip (ie it should be a factory cut above the words).

Play at top variety (note factory cut at top, hand-cut at bottom):


-Rhett