Counterfeit Card Alert: 1988-89 Fleer All-Star #120 Michael Jordan

In its first year, Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) graded about 200 examples of the 1988-89 Fleer All-Star #120 Michael Jordan. These cards, showing the Chicago Bulls great in one of his magnificent airborne moments, can be worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the higher grades. Even in the median CSG grade of 7.5, a card is worth about $100.

Genuine 1988-89 Fleer All-Star #120 Michael Jordan graded CSG 7.5 Click images to enlarge.

These cards are a nice way to obtain a collectible featuring one of the greatest basketball players in history — without breaking the bank. However, the CSG grading team has identified numerous counterfeits of this card, including the one highlighted in this column. This particular counterfeit card is deceptive enough that it might be difficult to detect if being purchased online.

Counterfeit 1988-89 Fleer All-Star #120 Michael Jordan Click images to enlarge.

A closer look at the counterfeit reveals a considerable amount of pixelation. This is because the images used to create the card are a copy of a copy. This pixelation is especially noticeable in the name and borders, which should be solid ink rather than pixels.

Close-ups of the counterfeit card Click images to enlarge.

In addition, the stock on which the card was printed is close to what is expected — but it was still not convincing to CSG's expert team in its weight and feel. Finally, the edges show cutting that is not consistent with how these cards are known to have been cut.

CSG uses world-class expertise, advanced technology, innovation and operational excellence to provide sports card collectors and dealers with accurate and consistent certification services. CSG backs these determinations with the industry-leading CSG Guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby.