✅ Activity 3: The Back Matters

Objective: Use card backs to detect fake paper stock, printing flaws, or missing details.

Activities:
Back Check Challenge – Evaluate the 2 photos of 1916 Babe Ruth card backs. Which is a likely counterfeit, and how can you tell? It might help to also evaluate photos of known legitimate examples online. 

Click to enlarge:

Back Check Part 2: Find a picture of a known counterfeit on eBay or the internet (they are often labeled as “novelty cards”) and upload pic. Describe the ways you can tell it is counterfeit. 

Quick Tips:

• Authentic vintage card backs are often duller, with faded ink

• Fakes may have too much gloss or incorrect fonts

• Counterfeits often show signs of having been soaked in tea to give an aged appearance