How to Spot a fake Jordan RC

[Billyhoyle]

There are many resources to help with spotting fake or reprint Michael Jordan Fleer rookie cards. Below are some that have been found

 

[Billyhoyle]

Taken from Cardboard Connection - http://www.cardboardconnection.com/how-to-spot-fake-michael-jordan-rookie-card
How to Spot a Fake Michael Jordan Rookie Card and Not Get Scammed

The 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is one of the most sought-after cards in the entire hobby world. This should come as a surprise to no one. A perfect storm of circumstances took the Jordan rookie from popular basketball card to iconic collectible.
First, Michael Jordan is a superstar athlete that bridges old school and new school collectors. While new collectors might be aware of what previous greats have done, such as Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, it is harder to appreciate their relevance due to low media exposure and the fact they they have not played basketball in so long. Michael Jordan is not simply a good basketball player. He is a worldwide celebrity with huge brand recognition and a legion of ravenous followers. Plus, there are those shoes you may have heard of over the years.
During the early 1980s, basketball cards in general were not that popular and 1986-87 Fleer was the first NBA product with full distribution since 1981-82 Topps. Although production numbers were not as large as other sports during the mid-to-late 80s, there are still many out there. Even today, the average collector with a few hundred dollars can still likely afford a low-grade Jordan rookie, while gem copies can push to the six figure mark. Lastly, it is simply a good-looking card. The design has stood the test of time and it now defines that era of basketball cards. As the 1986-87 Fleer unopened case and box supply dries up, there is really only one direction for values to push.
Unfortunately, this strong value and popularity has resulted in an equally strong counterfeit market for Michael Jordan rookie cards. The wide variety in the quality of fakes can also cause problems. Some are so grainy and poorly done, that even a less-knowledgeable collector would know something was wrong. However, there are some some better quality fakes where only one or two things might be slightly off, and those are the most problematic. Collectors who prefer the safe route can eliminate the majority of the uncertainty by buying a Michael Jordan rookie card that has been authenticated and slabbed by a reputable grading service. These cards do come with a premium cost, that rises significantly based on condition, but you avoid the gnawing paranoia regarding the legitimacy of your purchase.
The other route can result in considerably lower costs, but also the potential that you might have missed one red flag or that you just bought the nicest fake in town. As a guide to collectors, we have compiled some key areas to inspect in order to determine the authenticity of a Michael Jordan rookie card. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees, but this can be a useful aid if you are on the fence about a purchase. To properly evaluate these areas, it is best to have a magnifier of some kind. The most important things to remember are the two C's - Clarity and Color.
Real

Fake

A quick glance at the images above shows how it can be confusing to decide whether a Michael Jordan rookie card is real or fake. While there are differences, even to the naked eye, only a very experienced collector could easily determine the authenticity of a Michael Jordan rookie card from a quick glance.
Clarity

When looking at the front of the card, the first thing to pay attention to is the overall clarity. The clarity of the image, the clarity of the text, and the clarity of the colors. Sometimes, that is all it takes to immediately expose a fake. Just because this card is nearing 30 years old, does not mean that the photo should showcase a slight haze, like the fake above on the right. The text box at the bottom should feature cleanly printed text with a clear transition from the white text to the blue background, even under magnification. Also under magnification, the thin black line that parallels the yellow boarder should be solid and not pixelated at all. Another thing to note, the red, white and blue background colors should not overlap at all. Less telling, but still useful, the "Chicago" text on Jordan's jersey should be crisp and every letter should be legible. Make particular note to inspect the "i" and the "o."
The crown in the Fleer logo is another place to spend some time. Notice how much sharper the points are on the magnified authentic version, below on the left. The "FLEER" text also has a more balloon-ish quality on the fake on the right, and "PREMIER" isn't crisp.
Color

The red, white and blue border on the real rookie card features distinct colors. Convincing fakes will be normally be a tad brighter or darker, and poor fakes will exhibit colors that are much different. Another color element to look for is the arrow in the Fleer logo crown. The real version features a darker yellow/gold and is clearly a different color than the yellow text box. Most fakes will include the same color yellow in both the arrow and text box, but it is easy to trick yourself into thinking the colors are slightly different. The color difference is abundantly clear in an authentic version.
Real

Fake

The issues on the back are a little more subtle since there are fewer colors and images, and the design is plain. However, there are still several key areas to check out in regards to clarity and color.
Clarity

The first thing to check on the back of the card is the Chicago Bulls logo. With the real Bulls logo on the left, you are able to see the white around the eye, under magnification. On the fake, the ink around the eye bleeds together.
There are several other things that can signify a fake card. One is the the clarity of decimals in the stats, specifically the one in "27.2" average points. The decimal will be clear to the naked eye on the real version and nearly nonexistent on the fake. Also, the decimals listed in field goal percentage are generally very faint on the fakes. Next, the © symbol on the bottom left, in front of "1986 FLEER CORP," should be clearly legible. Likewise, the ® symbol in the top right near the Fleer logo should be easily read.
Lastly, the NBA Player logo in the bottom right should show a clear "NBA PLAYERS" in the middle of the ball, and "NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION," around the ball. Also, the logo itself is a basketball. With the real Michael Jordan rookie card, you should be able to see the faint lines that are indicative of a basketball. The fake version will normally have just a filled circle.
Color
Again, color plays an important role on the back of the card, but since the color can vary from fake to fake, and it's mostly just various shades of pink and red, it is not something you can specifically point to as a rule. However, the back of the Michael Jordan rookie card that directly applies to color is the pink and red color blocks that take up the majority of the back. The real version appears more textured, while the fake looks more like a fully filled-in color.
Also, the white background has more of an off-white appearance on the real version, while many of the fakes exhibit more of a bright white color.
Another Option
Outside of these key areas, many people will suggest that you compare the card in question to a Michael Jordan rookie card that you know is authentic. And this is good advice. But most collectors don't have Michael Jordan rookies lying around, let alone in their pocket, for comparison. It does help to know the feel of a particular card. I'm not suggesting you pry open the slab and play with a Michael Jordan rookie card, but is good to know exactly what you are dealing with. A good alternative to this is to buy a card of a no-name player from the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set. Michael Jordan is really the only card with high counterfeit levels, and a common card can be had for a few dollars, depending on condition. This way, you know the stock, the weight, the gloss, the overall feel of the card. You will also have a good reference point for design comparison.


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[Billyhoyle]

TAKEN FROM - http://bbcemporium.com/1986-fleer-micheal-jordan-counterfeit-guide/

Analyzing the Authentic 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Card
The 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is possibly the most commonly found counterfeited card. When making the decision to buy this card, especially in higher grade, it is highly recommended to buy the card graded by a reputable grading company, such as PSA or Beckett. Most of the counterfeits are fairly easy to find if you know what you’re looking for.

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Front

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Back

1. The arrow on the fleer logo should be a darker shade of yellow, almost a golden color. The reprints typically show the logo and arrow as the same shade of yellow.
2. There should be a very distinct transition between colors between the blue and red. The reprints commonly show a “fuzzy” transition.
3. The black border should be solid black ink. On the reprints, under magnification, this line will not be solid, but rather made up of small dots or pixels.
4. The word “Chicago” should be seen clearly. On the reprints, this is usually fuzzy and unclear.
5. On the nameplate, there should be clear distinction between the background color (light blue) and the white font for Jordan’s name. The reprint will usually have a “fuzzy” transition.
6. The “R” logo should be clearly distinguishable. On the reprints, it is not printed clearly.
7. The lines in the eyes of the bull should be separate and cleanly printed. On the reprints, the detail in the eyes is very poor.
8. The “C” logo should be clearly distinguishable. On the reprints, it is not printed clearly.
9. The lines inside the basketball on the NBA logo should be visible. On the reprints, the ball is typically solid ink.
10. There should be a period between the 27 and 2. This is missing on many reprints.
11. The lower half of the card should be a darker pink color. The reprints have a very light pink, almost peach color.

Examples of the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Counterfeit
Example 1

1. Notice the overall “graininess” to the front of the card.
2. The fleer logo and arrow are same color.
3. There is a fuzzy transition on the nameplate between the background color and white lettering.
4. The lines in the bull’s eyes are not distinguishable.
5. The period is missing between the 27 and 2.
6. The lines in the basketball for the NBA logo are missing. The ball is solid blue ink.

Example 2

1. The overall colors on the front are very dark.
2. The background color on the nameplate is a shade of blue too dark. It should be a light blue.
3. The fleer logo and arrow are both the same color. The arrow should be darker.
4. The font used for “Michael Jordan” is different and spaced too far apart.

 

[Billyhoyle]

TAKEN FROM - http://sportscardinfo.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/how-to-spot-a-fake-michael-jordan-86-87-fleer-rookie/

How To Spot A Fake Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer Rookie
Posted on May 21, 2008 by sportscardinfo

The Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer Rookie card is one of the most forged cards on today’s market. Below are the ways that you can spot a fake. Remember that the only way to be 100% sure its real is if you buy one that is graded and/or certified.

Above, the genuine logo shows the white of each of the bull’s eyes. On the right eye on the fake below it is almost filled in.

The fake “Fleer Premier” logo above is a poor copy of the genuine logo below.

The above photo shows the small print dots filling in the white area of Jordan’s name, team and position on a fake. The photo below shows the same area on a real copy, showing the clean white text.

 

[adhunt99]

Good on ya.