1928 Fro Joy Babe Ruth - Authentic?

[Leon]

I don't like it more now.

I also took the liberty of adding a visual to Greg's post, it being the E121. I hope to help show what I am talking about concerning old card paper. It's almost smooth many/most times whereas most of the fakes don't have that feel. Maybe it's the patina/uneven gloss on them?

[Jaybird]

I agree that it looks off. It is certainly flourescing more than the ones on either side. The paper doesn't look slick enough on the top of the card either (agreeing with Leon).

I think the blacklight is a good determining factor especially against a known authentic.

The printing does look alright though so it really does come down to the paper on these. Very tricky.

I need to look at mine again but I seem to remember that the edges on an authentic should all roll over and are not sharp. This is from the top looking down. I'll try and post a scan tomorrow to illustrate what I'm talking about. This would be more apparent on a NM card than a VG card.

[teetwoohsix]

I know nothing about how to tell a real from a fake with these- and the middle card sure does appear to be brighter,, but on the front middle scan, first photo without the blacklight you can see in the upper left corner that it seems to have some chipping or wear,,,,,and on my computer, the first front shot under the blacklight it seems as though the paper underneath that first layer (where it is chipped) almost has the same "tone" as the cards on each side (the known real ones).

[Clutch-Hitter]

Leon, "patina" seems right and was a good word choice. It appears a definite authentic has a brown undertone, under the white.

As far as cards being printed on various paper stocks back then, I have a set of W517's (minus four), some with several variations. The thickness, color, etc of the paper varies variation to variation.

Another thing about the card in question, the Ruth's Grip #5, is that it has a strong vintage odor.

A Ruth collector in Maryland has a set of authentic factory cut singles in Beckett holders, and his neighbor has some too. Overall, he's handled approx twenty. When I spoke to him about it, he said the paper is more like a '33 Goudey and less like a '34 Goudey. He explained why he said that, but just out of curiosity, do y'all know why?

I have an E121 type card and '33 Goudeys, so I'll get some comparison work done with them today.

A Goudey Ruth in PSA 3 is an awesome card, but even so this card is easily the most stunning I've ever owned.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Clayton, I saw your post after I posted, so it was interesting you mentioned the undertone. The "...Grip" card is old, smells old, etc.

I'm about to do some work with my Tunney Fro Joy and the others mentioned.

Clayton, both of these also have strong vintage odors. The first black and white fake was sold by a guy who claimed he bought it c. 1980, and I tend to believe him. Both are singles from fake sheets.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Here's the card in question between an E121 (poor condition) and a 1928 Yeungling (poor condition):




Here it is between a '33 Goudey and a '27 Fro Joy Tunney:




And the next is very interesting. Between 1970's fakes: