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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: Corey R. Shanus
In the discussion regarding the authenticity of the 1930 Ruth calendar card, a great question was posed -- if, as I and others have said, scientific testing can only establish what something is not, not what something is, how then does one authenticate a never-before-seen item? The answer is by corroborating evidence, which, depending on how much there is of it and its persuasiveness, may lead to a conclusions ranging from "I'm still really up in the air" (meaning a tremendous leap of faith is required to believe in the authenticity of the item) to "As a practical matter, there is no question the item is genuine". |
#2
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: barrysloate
One of the complicated aspects of the 1930 Babe Ruth card is a counterfeiter would have no problem at all getting 1930's era paper, little trouble finding ink from that period, and could probably even acquire an antique printer with little effort. As a result, any forensic testing would conclude that every aspect of the card is consistent with a ca. 1930 product- and it would still be a fake! |
#3
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: Peter Spaeth
I imagine these issues must come up fairly frequently in the art world. As to the Ruth, as a non-expert, and not being able to judge anything by the scan, the two points I found fairly persuasive at this stage are (1) the corroborating evidence suggesting Goudey did not use the trade name Big League Chewing Gum until 1933 and (2) the suggestion that if it was indeed a promotional item from 1930, it would be reasonable to think that a large number would have been made and therefore more than one would have survived. |
#4
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: davidcycleback
Notes on the subject: |
#5
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: leon
Points well made so far, guys. Let me be devils advocate on the 1930 Ruth Goudey card, for a moment. For sake of argument why can't the item be a one-off prototype card? As I was speaking with Marshall last night I (or he, I don't remember) brought up the point about the trademarking of Big League Gum. Why couldn't it have only been a printer's idea that was put in a desk drawer after he came up with it? Then, 3 years later, he saw the card, showed it to management...they liked it and off to the races with the brand and trademarking. Is that too far fetched to be feasible? To state again, I don't think there's a snowball's chance of this card being real...but these points should at least be taken into account, pertaining to a possibility, for future reference of these kinds of items... |
#6
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: Corey R. Shanus
Is that THEORETICALLY possible (assuming the card passes scientific testing), yes? But given its non-1930s-looking appearance (at least so I've been told) and the expressed opinions of hobby experts, do you really want to have $19K riding on that possibility? Often times in the end when all the facts are in it comes down to how much of a leap of faith are you comfortable taking? It seems to me that even if the card does pass testing, unless something akin to the card containing a substance that was commercially available, say, only from 1910-1960 and since then has, as a practical matter, been unavailable, you'd still be taking one heck of a big one. |
#7
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: leon
In my mind there is no way that Bill Mastro, Josh Leland, PSA, SGC, Rob Lifson, Pete Calderon, Marshall Fogel (many of whom have personally held it), and several others I don't want to mention, would all be wrong on a single card. No way in hell. Does that answer your question? I told Steve this morning that he should refund Mark immediately. If the card is found to be good (it won't) then he'll have no problem selling it...and I will be first in line, instead of second..... |
#8
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How to Authenticate a Unique Item-the Limits of Scientific Testing
Posted By: barrysloate
Prototypes are made, and often for economic reasons put aside and readdressed at some point down the road, so that is a fair point. But it is nothing more than a stab in the dark to try and find a reason why it could be real. |
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