1. The original has a print dot on Gretzky’s shoulder (see image below)
2. All of the Gretzky rookies from the first printing (there were two different printings) have two thin blue lines traversing the reverse side (lengthwise).
3. The image quality on the fakes will not have the same sharpness or resolution (measured in dots or picture elements per square inch) as the originals.
4. Original Gretzky rookies may have a rough edge because of the way they were cut. The 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee sets were wire cut and after awhile the wire would get dull producing a rough edge. Most fakes look too perfect and may have all smooth edges.
Filed under: Spotting Specific Fake Cards | Tagged: chee, gretzky, hockey, nhl, o, pee, wayne
My Gretzky rookie has quality 1,2 and 4 listed above, as well as sharp black borders, a sharp oilers logo but his face is fuzzy as well as his shoulders and legs. I also notice that the actual image itself is not centered in its surrounding black border, leading to numerous small red dots above the upper black border, it this possible on an authentic? It has also passed professional grading. Does this make it fail, or is it an out of focus authentic?