1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth-Real or Fake?

Boylen33 · Feb 14, 2012

Hey guys,
I am not versed in vintage authenticity. I came across someone local who has a 1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth. He sent me pics of it, which I have included here. I know that it's best to stay away from raw Goudey's, but is there any well to tell if this is real or fake? I know you may not be able to tell much from the pictures, but I would appreciate your opinions. If it is obviously a reprint then I don't want to waste my time to look at it in person. If you think there is a chance it is authentic judging by the pics, what should I look for in person? He claims that his grandfather gave it to him in December of 1977.

scotty21690 · Feb 14, 2012

If you have to ask, then it's most likely a fake.

Doesn't look good to me..

wolfmanalfredo · Feb 14, 2012

scotty21690 said:
If you have to ask, then it's most likely a fake.

Doesn't look good to me..

Agreed, colors look to sharp

WoundedDuck · Feb 14, 2012

I'd post it on the net54baseball forums. There are many there who could probably help

nyc3 · Feb 14, 2012

Let me guess, craigslist?

Its more than likely a fake.

Boylen33 · Feb 14, 2012

No, not craigslist, but something like it. It's a local Facebook county-wide yard sale page. The guy may be telling the truth-- that his grandfather did give it to him, but the guy doesn't collect and probably doesn't know any better (as in it could be a reprint).

ThoseBackPages · Feb 14, 2012

have him get it graded

homerun28aa · Feb 14, 2012

I'm not even baffled by this one, looks extremely fake. It's a reprint for sure IMO

homerun28aa · Feb 14, 2012

And I'm not saying at all this guy is lieing to you that his grandfather gave it to him, plus it was given to him in 1977, 40 years after release, so it's 99% a reprint.

Boylen33 · Feb 14, 2012

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have advised him to get it graded/authenticated.

ChasHawk · Feb 14, 2012

I'm no expert, but I think that smudge on the back at the bottom is a tell-tale sign of a reprint.

edit: from net54

Reprint..... There are certain place to look to see if the image is cropped, and then you would look at color (especially the shadows of face), and then look at the general wear. Authentic Goudeys will wear differently than a reprint, even if faked. Back of card, there are things to look for and place to look too (ie scuffing between the words GOUDEY GUM CO. and BOSTON where the word "reprint" was removed).

So, he 100% has a reprint, and I'm guessing he probably knows it...or his grandfather did... :lol:

justinmandawg · Feb 14, 2012

Both pictures are out of focus. Very difficult to see everything. 99:1 it's fake. The back looks off. The color of the ink is too vivid even out of the pack.

ChasHawk · Feb 14, 2012

$(KGrHqV,!iUE7FnbON!rBO8SUOvbgQ~~60_12.JPG

See where it says reprint?

So he has an almost pristine card, with 1 giant smudge, and it just happens to be where...

homerun28aa · Feb 14, 2012

ChasHawk said:
See where it says reprint?

So he has an almost pristine card, with 1 giant smudge, and it just happens to be where...

Yep there it is, oldest trick in the book for those who try to pass reprints as legit.

DeliciousBacon · Feb 14, 2012

Whoever tried to pass this card as real neglected to remove the "Renata Galasso" preceding the "Reprint". FAIL.

I don't think Galasso was doing the reprint sets in the 70's, so the whole "got this from my grandfather in 1977" story falls apart. This is probably the easiest fake to detect.

ChasHawk · Feb 14, 2012

A real back for reference...

$(KGrHqRHJCwE8fezDYDyBPOybjv)T!~~60_3.JPG

nyc3 · Feb 15, 2012

homerun28aa said:
And I'm not saying at all this guy is lieing to you that his grandfather gave it to him, .

I am saying he is. If you buy his story his grandfather also altered it to make it look real.

sneekc · Feb 15, 2012

Was it found in a tin at a flea market by a guy named tom? Gotta be real then!

pootshwan · Feb 15, 2012

"If it's too good to be true...."

Ghumbs · Feb 15, 2012

My advice is to waste his time checking it out.

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