Cracker Jack reprints

CJ reprints are pretty easy to spot in person and on eBay. The original cards were NOT printed with any white ink. This means that areas where the uniform meet the border blend seamlessly. On reprints, there is a clear distinction between the uniform and border. The best example of this can be seen on the left side of the Plank below. Look at the top of the shoulder and you can see there is no difference between the color of the border and the color of the uniform.


I don't have any scans of a reprint, so if someone can post one, it would be appreciated.

Jay

CJ's were widely reprinted, and there is a variety of reprint types. Jay's point about the blend between the border and uniform colors is a good one.

Also, authentic CJ's were printed on an extremely thin, cream colored card stock. The card stock has a bit of texture as well. So if you see one with off-white borders and a smooth shiny surface, it's a reprint. And if you see a CJ with super jumbo borders (like the Plank reprint below), it's probably a fake too.

Finally, compare the font type on the captions of these reprints to that of Jay's Plank - they're completely different.

Reprint 1:


Reprint 2:

I came across a couple of 1914 Cracker Jack cards about 10 years ago. I am not a collector and know next to nothing about the hobby. When I found them I spoke to someone who was a card collector and he said that a lot of reprints existed and likely they were not original. so I just held on to them.

Both cards are damaged, so even if they are "real" the collector value would be low. So I am reluctant to send them off for grading.

However if they were to be real, even damaged (backs only) I would like to set them up for display. Soon they will be 100 years old and conversation pieces for sure.

Would anyone be interested in looking at some scans and give me an expert opinion. I do not want to waste peoples time but I remain curious.

I'm sure if you posted the scans, it'd garner many opinions. The people on this board are pretty good and will very likely be correct about whether or not it's a reprint.

Cracker Jacks are one of the easiest sets to tell from a scan if they are a reprint. So please post scans and we can let you know if you have vintage cards or not.

Ill scan them at the office (good quality) next week and post.

Thanks for the interest.

Cards #5 and #68.

We did have someone else in your position come to the board with the same questions. Their cards turned out to be originals and came out nicely in their sales.

The scans will tell us immediately if they are real or reprints.

Lee

See the scans:

#5 and #68

reprints. The border and the uniform have distinct lines which don't exist on the real thing

Actually, I disagree Jay. They look like the real deal to me. Hard to fake wear/aging like you see on those.

how thin is the paper stock? I am not sure they are reprints.

Lee

I have a reprint set and they are definately not the same. The Wagner will bring a good price. Be aware of anyone trying to buy the card through a PM or email contact. It may be damaged but it still has a nice presentation.

Lee

After looking at the reprints on Ebay II am saying they are the real deal, for one thing the blue on the reprints is a different shade.

Lee

The paper is quite thin, not "cardboard" for sure.

They are the real thing. Very nice find.

Lee

Great to hear they are real. Thanks a lot.

With the damaged backs is it still worth having them graded?

I was thinking to display them in picture frames, only the fronts show. After grading they seem to put them in cases which would not work as well for frames.

The Wagner for sure, but it won't cost much extra to get the Miller graded. Make sure there is confirmation from a few other members but I am almost positive they are real.

Lee

No problem.

I have had them for years and never knew if they were real or not. It is best, as you suggest, to let some other experianced collectors have a look and comment.

No rush
Regards

I'm still in the reprint camp. Look at the left where the shoulder meets the red. There is no deliniation there yet there is on his card.

Well, I was about to agree with Jay...the clear "line" separating the border looked very suspicious to me...but then I found this scan online of a 1914 CJ Honus in a PSA 2 holder...looks a lot like our friend's here: