Can anyone tell me which are legit?

[rogermaris]

As many might be aware, 1997 SP Profiles football die cuts come in two versions -- one is hand numbered, the other is machine stamped. I remember looking into this years ago and finding concrete information but I'm struggling now.

My obvious gut instinct is that the machine stamped ones are legitimate and the handwritten ones are backdoored, but can anyone confirm?

This is the set:

https://www.tcdb.com/Checklist.cfm/s...Die-Cuts-SN100

[Grid]

You will never get a straight answer out of anyone.

Those who have the machine stamped ones, claim the hand numbered were backdoor copies. Just to pump up the values of theirs.

Those with hand numbered ones will claim theirs are SP, as most were machine stamped. Just to pump up the values of theirs.

In reality, as far as I can remember. It was just a matter of stamping error. And it effected more than just these cards, but other serial numbered die cuts across other brands and sports as well. They just didnt feed right into the foil numbering machine, do to the die-cut edges. They went wonky.

If you look at the machine stamped ones, most are sloppy. Too high, too low, some stamped too hard and it blotted. Or too light and the numbers are hard to see.

So UD took to numbering some by hand in order to still pack out. Which is why most players have both versions.

I never bought into the backdoor theory, as there are just way too many hand numbered ones for that to make sense. UD would have had to print dozens of extras for each player. And then have all of those get stolen and enter the market for it to make sense. And these have been in circulation for almost 30 years by now. Its nothing new.

[Blazed]

As mentioned above, there's no straight answer

There was an IG post a while back that mentioned the hand numbered vs. stamped ones (said stamped ones were legit and gave reasons) but can't remember the user name

So I bought both versions of Barry Sanders

[rogermaris]

Thanks for the insights so far. I think the only reason I think the hand-numbered ones are plausible is because the basketball set was also hand-numbered.

I feel like they could not have come both ways as I have seen the same serial number in both styles.

[3124508 on COMC]

Marinocollector says the machine stamped ones are legit so I tend to believe him. See his IG comment reply to a post made by vol_in_nc_cards regarding his McNair from Aril 13, 2023.

[IpcSteveYoung]

I personally would never buy a hand-numbered copy of this card.
But that's my own personal preference, as I tend to lean towards the idea that hand-numbered inserts are backdoor copies...

[Dallas Cowboys]

Here’s mine. Looks like my Emmitt is the only one I have stamped the other three are hand serial numbered. I might replace them at some point but it’s not high on my priority list right now. I’m with Grid I don’t think these were back door replacements. I bet since they were due cut they had trouble machine stamping them and just resorted to hand numbering.





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[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys

Here’s mine. Looks like my Emmitt is the only one I have stamped the other three are hand serial numbered. I might replace them at some point but it’s not high on my priority list right now. I’m with Grid I don’t think these were back door replacements. I bet since they were due cut they had trouble machine stamping them and just resorted to hand numbering.





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Nice ones!! I’m have to check my Deion and Playmaker to see what they are now that I think of it ..think they are handwritten

[rogermaris]

Thanks everyone for all your insight! The lead to Marianocollector's post really helped.

[Jazz Chisholm]

I had a hand numbered Kerry Collins in high school. I graduated in 99. Got it in a trade so I don’t know whether it was issued in a pack, but that at least gives a timeline of how long the hand numbered ones have been around

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by Grid

You will never get a straight answer out of anyone.

Those who have the machine stamped ones, claim the hand numbered were backdoor copies. Just to pump up the values of theirs.

Those with hand numbered ones will claim theirs are SP, as most were machine stamped. Just to pump up the values of theirs.

In reality, as far as I can remember. It was just a matter of stamping error. And it effected more than just these cards, but other serial numbered die cuts across other brands and sports as well. They just didnt feed right into the foil numbering machine, do to the die-cut edges. They went wonky.

If you look at the machine stamped ones, most are sloppy. Too high, too low, some stamped too hard and it blotted. Or too light and the numbers are hard to see.

So UD took to numbering some by hand in order to still pack out. Which is why most players have both versions.

I never bought into the backdoor theory, as there are just way too many hand numbered ones for that to make sense. UD would have had to print dozens of extras for each player. And then have all of those get stolen and enter the market for it to make sense. And these have been in circulation for almost 30 years by now. Its nothing new.

In 2015 there was a seller selling blanks by the 20+ lots. I no longer have images, due to changing phones, but I’ll see if one of my friends do.

The hand numbered cards are 100% never issued in packs.

This post is filled with TONS of horrible information.

Upper Deck used a “rubber imprinting stamp” on the pack issued cards.

Theres a reason you see tons of the hand numbered ones and hardly see the machine stamped. The machine stamped are the real, the others are frauds and just enter circulation in the past 10 years.