reprinted cards<\/a> (most notably, in recent years, cards printed by Goudeys) are just generally of a lesser quality than the original cards, to the point where you\u2019re able to tell it\u2019s a reprint simply by how it looks, or the card stock it\u2019s printed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnother difference to look out for is the dimensions of the face of the card and the back of the card. Compare these dimensions with those of other cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also check price guides, which should list the dimensions of standard issue cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also worth noting is the dimensions of the printing itself; things like the size of the image on the card, the borders, and the text. Some reprints will have identical printing but will be the wrong size, or vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look out for solid areas. You can check for these using either a magnifying glass or a microscope. Some original cards have a solid border around the picture and the name of the player, so if a card doesn\u2019t feature this kind of border, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s a reprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another thing to watch out for is the weight of the card, which should give you an idea of which cardstock was used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This isn\u2019t always a sign that it\u2019s a reprint, though; small differences may just be down to natural variation amongst the cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should also be analysing the appearance of the card stock, and the surfaces; things like the color, the texture, the feel. A lot of the time companies struggle to provide reprints with the right gloss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also do an opacity test on the card by shining light through it (although the opacity of original cards can vary, so best to read up on your particular card\u2019s online), as well as a black light test to discern ink from cardboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n