Magic: The Gathering’s Reserved List includes some of the most valuable cards ever printed—Power Nine, dual lands, Legends-era rares, Mirage block staples, and early foils. Because of their rising value, counterfeiters now target these cards with advanced techniques ranging from crude inkjets to high-resolution “super fakes” that mimic gloss, rosette patterns, card weight, and fiber structure. Accurate authentication requires a structured, forensic approach.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 236 — Real vs. Fake: Counterfeits in Magic: The Gathering Reserved List Cards teaches the full professional workflow used by trading-card examiners, appraisers, and grading-prep consultants. This guide explains MTG’s early printing construction, blue-core behavior, surface diagnostics, corner-radius precision, and how counterfeiters fail under detailed inspection.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify correct blue-core or black-core fiber construction across print eras
Detect counterfeit rosette patterns, dot structure errors, and digital dithering
Evaluate gloss, surface sheen, and era-correct coating behavior
Authenticate opacity levels with light tests and diffusion checks
Analyze edge fibers, color breaks, and over-inked borders
Distinguish correct corner radii, die-cut precision, and edge cleanliness
Perform tactile tests for texture, flex, snap, and laminate clues
Identify UV fluorescence patterns consistent with early Wizards printing
Separate Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Revised, Legends, and Mirage production characteristics
Evaluate foils for diffraction quality, prismatic layering, and bonding integrity
Detect high-end industrial “super fakes” that mimic color accuracy and opacity
Spot red flags on dual lands, Power Nine, early foils, and other premium targets
Apply comparative analysis with verified exemplars for final authentication judgment
Volume 236 gives collectors a professional, laboratory-grade framework for validating Reserved List cards—ensuring confidence in a market increasingly affected by sophisticated counterfeits.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Magic: The Gathering’s Reserved List includes some of the most valuable cards ever printed—Power Nine, dual lands, Legends-era rares, Mirage block staples, and early foils. Because of their rising value, counterfeiters now target these cards with advanced techniques ranging from crude inkjets to high-resolution “super fakes” that mimic gloss, rosette patterns, card weight, and fiber structure. Accurate authentication requires a structured, forensic approach.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 236 — Real vs. Fake: Counterfeits in Magic: The Gathering Reserved List Cards teaches the full professional workflow used by trading-card examiners, appraisers, and grading-prep consultants. This guide explains MTG’s early printing construction, blue-core behavior, surface diagnostics, corner-radius precision, and how counterfeiters fail under detailed inspection.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify correct blue-core or black-core fiber construction across print eras
Detect counterfeit rosette patterns, dot structure errors, and digital dithering
Evaluate gloss, surface sheen, and era-correct coating behavior
Authenticate opacity levels with light tests and diffusion checks
Analyze edge fibers, color breaks, and over-inked borders
Distinguish correct corner radii, die-cut precision, and edge cleanliness
Perform tactile tests for texture, flex, snap, and laminate clues
Identify UV fluorescence patterns consistent with early Wizards printing
Separate Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Revised, Legends, and Mirage production characteristics
Evaluate foils for diffraction quality, prismatic layering, and bonding integrity
Detect high-end industrial “super fakes” that mimic color accuracy and opacity
Spot red flags on dual lands, Power Nine, early foils, and other premium targets
Apply comparative analysis with verified exemplars for final authentication judgment
Volume 236 gives collectors a professional, laboratory-grade framework for validating Reserved List cards—ensuring confidence in a market increasingly affected by sophisticated counterfeits.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Image 1 of 1