Harmon Rookie Authenticity Questions

TimLaugh · 01-01-2023, 08:40 PM

Just wondering if you guys can help me judge this one.. I’ve been around cards my whole life but bought this one from a lady and thought for sure real until researching there’s some fakes.. Card is bigger than the modern standard size which I think is a good thing.. Vintage is not my deal but it’s in awesome shape and the price wasn’t too bad.. just wondering if these pics can help anyone help me.. you won’t hurt my feelings with the truth.. appreciate all the guys and gals on here and hope you all have a great new year ahead

discodanman45 · 01-01-2023, 09:07 PM

Hard to tell with the smaller images. The colors and print quality look legit. It is not a cheap etsy fake.

Easiest way to tell if it is real, if you don't have any 1955 Topps lying around, is to smell it. 50's cardboard will smell much different than any reprint on modern cardstock.

TimLaugh · 01-01-2023, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Hard to tell with the smaller images. The colors and print quality look legit. It is not a cheap etsy fake.

Easiest way to tell if it is real, if you don't have any 1955 Topps lying around, is to smell it. 50's cardboard will smell much different than any reprint on modern cardstock.

Thank you so much for this.. I thrift full time and cannot believe I didn’t think to take a sniff.. Covid took my whiffer for a while but my wife and kids agree this bad boy smells like goodwill and oldness.. Hope everyone else agrees with your other points.. I appreciate you taking the time

mjohnatgt · 01-01-2023, 10:23 PM

You need to upload the pictures somewhere else and then link them here. The ones you uploaded are just too small to determine anything. However, the centering looks promising, as most reprints will be centered properly.

hxcmilkshake · 01-01-2023, 10:37 PM

Man those corners look almost too good.

Did she have anything else?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

TimLaugh · 01-01-2023, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

You need to upload the pictures somewhere else and then link them here. The ones you uploaded are just too small to determine anything. However, the centering looks promising, as most reprints will be centered properly.

Thanks for the insight.. I used to be able to upload better on here just never figured out how to after the photo bucket stopped working.. if you click and hold the picture it takes ya to a new window and you can zoom around a bit but that’s a lot to do.. appreciate your response and hope you’re right about the centering being off enough to make it authentic.. have a great night

TimLaugh · 01-01-2023, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hxcmilkshake

Man those corners look almost too good.

Did she have anything else?

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

The upper edge front has a little ruffled spot but yeah I agree the corners are almost too sharp.. she only had this one.. was a random lady at Burger King in the parking lot about 5 years ago now, said it was her Dads and the only thing she had of value.. gave her 100 for it cause I felt bad.. have wondered about it off and on since so figured when I seen it tonight I’d ask my friends here

MOONBASE1 · 01-03-2023, 04:39 AM

Those borders are almost too white.

TimLaugh · 01-03-2023, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONBASE1

Those borders are almost too white.

Yeah like I said I’m not much for knowing about the vintage but others have given some things to be hopeful about.. hope they are just yellow enough I guess lol

discodanman45 · 01-03-2023, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

Yeah like I said I’m not much for knowing about the vintage but others have given some things to be hopeful about.. hope they are just yellow enough I guess lol

I have a few 55 Topps that have perfectly white borders. The blue color of the cap and blue around the W just look right to me without being able to see the card in big pictures. This would be a perfect card to send to SGC. Right now, I wouldn't send vintage to PSA with the way they tend to just let vintage sit over modern.

TimLaugh · 01-03-2023, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I have a few 55 Topps that have perfectly white borders. The blue color of the cap and blue around the W just look right to me without being able to see the card in big pictures. This would be a perfect card to send to SGC. Right now, I wouldn't send vintage to PSA with the way they tend to just let vintage sit over modern.

That’s great to hear, thanks so much for the comment.. I’ve never done SGC or PSA only BGS.. Might have to look into it.. Hope you have a great night

oplum29 · 01-04-2023, 03:15 AM

buy a magnifying glass and look at the print dots, or upload a better picture for us to see up close, because it's difficult to tell from the first ones you uploaded.

jkk503 · 01-07-2023, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oplum29

buy a magnifying glass and look at the print dots, or upload a better picture for us to see up close, because it's difficult to tell from the first ones you uploaded.

This. The one time someone tried to pull a fake on me (Nolan Ryan rook) that lasted until I got it under magnification. I saw not the normal dot patterns of a 1956s color photo, but weird polygonal spots of color.

irv · 01-07-2023, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

Thanks for the insight.. I used to be able to upload better on here just never figured out how to after the photo bucket stopped working.. if you click and hold the picture it takes ya to a new window and you can zoom around a bit but that’s a lot to do.. appreciate your response and hope you’re right about the centering being off enough to make it authentic.. have a great night

Do you have a scanner at all?
If so, scan the card or a section of the card at a much higher DPI than normal.
This is my Mario Lemieux RC scanned at the Penguin to see the print dots much more easily which verified it was legit and not a reprint/fake.

oplum29 · 01-07-2023, 04:36 PM

nice Lemiux rookie

TimLaugh · 01-07-2023, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irv

Do you have a scanner at all?
If so, scan the card or a section of the card at a much higher DPI than normal.
This is my Mario Lemieux RC scanned at the Penguin to see the print dots much more easily which verified it was legit and not a reprint/fake.

No scanner but will see if I can get something to zoom into it with.. Sweet Super Mario, my dad loved that old announcer, “get one for your dog too, it’s Mario Lemieux”

irv · 01-08-2023, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oplum29

nice Lemiux rookie

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

No scanner but will see if I can get something to zoom into it with.. Sweet Super Mario, my dad loved that old announcer, “get one for your dog too, it’s Mario Lemieux”

Thanks guys.

With the border tilt/irregularity, I'm not sure if it is worth getting graded?
I'm guessing a 6-7 maybe due to that? The card, otherwise, is in excellent/mint condition but I think the border would weigh it down too much to justify the grading costs?

TimLaugh · 01-09-2023, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irv

Thanks guys.

With the border tilt/irregularity, I'm not sure if it is worth getting graded?
I'm guessing a 6-7 maybe due to that? The card, otherwise, is in excellent/mint condition but I think the border would weigh it down too much to justify the grading costs?

I’ve been surprised in the past with BGS but hear PSA is super tough.. if that is for the personal collection probably not worth it but if you’re looking to sell might be worth the risk/reward.. I’m thinking about sending this Harmon

irv · 01-11-2023, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimLaugh

I’ve been surprised in the past with BGS but hear PSA is super tough.. if that is for the personal collection probably not worth it but if you’re looking to sell might be worth the risk/reward.. I’m thinking about sending this Harmon

PSA and SGC have been super tough as of late based on what I've seen and heard.
Personally, I'd likely still go with SGC but being up here in Canada, I'd likely choose MNT over either of them?

mizzoujohn · 01-11-2023, 02:40 PM

Are you in the Tampa Bay Area? If so I’ll assess the card for you.
John

TimLaugh · 01-12-2023, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizzoujohn

Are you in the Tampa Bay Area? If so I’ll assess the card for you.
John

Appreciate the offer but I’m in Minnesota

TimLaugh · 01-12-2023, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irv

PSA and SGC have been super tough as of late based on what I've seen and heard.
Personally, I'd likely still go with SGC but being up here in Canada, I'd likely choose MNT over either of them?

Never heard of them, will do some research

MOONBASE1 · 01-12-2023, 10:33 PM

Scope the side of the edges. Compare them to modern. Do you notice the slightest bit of fraying anywhere?

vthobby · 01-12-2023, 10:34 PM

If you had simply sent it to SGC when you posted about this the 1st time, you'd know the grade by now. All for under $50 round trip all inclusive. Simple really.

TimLaugh · 01-13-2023, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vthobby

If you had simply sent it to SGC when you posted about this the 1st time, you'd know the grade by now. All for under $50 round trip all inclusive. Simple really.

Where do I sign up?!?

01-01-2023, 08:40 PM	#1
TimLaugh Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 5,078	Harmon Rookie Authenticity Questions Just wondering if you guys can help me judge this one.. I’ve been around cards my whole life but bought this one from a lady and thought for sure real until researching there’s some fakes.. Card is bigger than the modern standard size which I think is a good thing.. Vintage is not my deal but it’s in awesome shape and the price wasn’t too bad.. just wondering if these pics can help anyone help me.. you won’t hurt my feelings with the truth.. appreciate all the guys and gals on here and hope you all have a great new year ahead Attached Thumbnails __________________ Stores.ebay.com/laugh612 Last edited by TimLaugh; 01-01-2023 at 09:03 PM.

01-01-2023, 09:07 PM	#2
discodanman45 Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: CA Posts: 10,123 danch27	Hard to tell with the smaller images. The colors and print quality look legit. It is not a cheap etsy fake. Easiest way to tell if it is real, if you don't have any 1955 Topps lying around, is to smell it. 50's cardboard will smell much different than any reprint on modern cardstock. __________________ Always looking for rarer Rik Smits cards and cards from the 2014-15 Spectra Global Icons set. Send me a message!

01-04-2023, 03:15 AM	#12
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	buy a magnifying glass and look at the print dots, or upload a better picture for us to see up close, because it's difficult to tell from the first ones you uploaded. __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters

01-07-2023, 04:36 PM	#15
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	nice Lemiux rookie __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters

01-12-2023, 10:34 PM	#24
vthobby Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Virginia Tech Posts: 855	SGC..... If you had simply sent it to SGC when you posted about this the 1st time, you'd know the grade by now. All for under $50 round trip all inclusive. Simple really.

01-01-2023, 10:23 PM	#4
mjohnatgt Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Niceville, FL Posts: 14,924 mjohnatgt mjohnatgt	You need to upload the pictures somewhere else and then link them here. The ones you uploaded are just too small to determine anything. However, the centering looks promising, as most reprints will be centered properly.

01-01-2023, 10:37 PM	#5
hxcmilkshake Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Apopka FL Posts: 11,705 hxcmilkshake	Man those corners look almost too good. Did she have anything else? Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

01-03-2023, 04:39 AM	#8
MOONBASE1 Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: East Coast Posts: 1,125	Those borders are almost too white.

01-11-2023, 02:40 PM	#20
mizzoujohn Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 190	Are you in the Tampa Bay Area? If so I’ll assess the card for you. John

01-12-2023, 10:33 PM	#23
MOONBASE1 Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: East Coast Posts: 1,125	Scope the side of the edges. Compare them to modern. Do you notice the slightest bit of fraying anywhere?