"historical" custom cards .... now with faux foxing and toning added

This is really disturbing for me as a history buff. I don't care for the "custom card" craze much but I think this takes it to an even greater "ahistorical" level. Here's a Fredrick Douglass signature affixed to what is described as a "reproduction CDV" that has been aged to look antique.

Frederick Douglass Custom CDV Cut Signature Card

Authentic cut signature affixed to a reproduction CDV portrait featuring dramatic portrait of the esteemed orator and writer. Davis signs as “Fred’k. Douglass” and adds “Recorder” also in his hand.

Signature exhibits wear typically associated with age, use and handling. Custom card measures appx. 3.25” x 4.75” inside appx. 4.25” x 7” encapsulate.

The verso of the repro. CDV includes a digital reproduction of the 19th Century Matthew Brady photography studio logo along with the the modern day dealer's ad and website information. Plus fake foxing and toning on the background to make it all look antique. I guess the inclusion of the Brady logo and the artificial paper aging is what bothers me the most.

The fact that the year 2025 is included in the copyright notice on the dealer's ad will (hopefully) be a red flag in the future if it's resold to someone down the line who doesn't have the current listing info. available.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 12, 2025 at 6:15am

I would be very careful about reproducing that Reverse Brady logo to sell an item. The rest is obscene and destructive.

Now more than ever the words "cut" and "photograph" must be understood.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on May 12, 2025 at 7:34am

It's ironic that the Brady logo is freely reproduced by the dealer to sell this item, yet the dealership has their business and copyright info. with the "All rights reserved" statement displayed beneath it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 12, 2025 at 6:40am

Thinking a little further, that should not be slabbed IMO. It is misleading.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on May 12, 2025 at 7:29am

Eric - I think we're on the same page regarding the slabbing of this creation. In theory, isn't the act of slabbing something meant to be encapsulating something to maintain it's original integrity and catalogue it as such? I don't know that a recently designed item by a dealer should qualify. I know the label says "cut" ..... but still .....

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 12, 2025 at 7:48am

Indeed, we are in agreement. A line is being crossed with this slab. :"Our label means authentic" - in that context italics can suggest, apart from emphasis, irony or even doubt...

It seems we are seeing more and more "problems" in the last year than we have before? These cuts and the others like the Lugosi, Karloff and was it Walter Pidgeon or Lon Chaney - these pastiche creations... It was the Henry Hull you found IIRC.

And then the obvious secretarial Crawford on the Facts page you noted...very disappointing.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on May 12, 2025 at 8:30am

At best, what has been created here is "ahistorical", IMHO.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on May 12, 2025 at 4:03pm

Eric -

I've been thinking.

Are you and I on the wrong side of the fence regarding these custom cards/custom CDVs ,etc. at this point in time?

They do seem to generate "oohs and aahs" when they appear on the market. Maybe this is a trend that has already solidified in the historical collecting market going forward.

p.s. I guess it's the Brady's logo as well as the "aging" of the custom CDV that really bugged me about this one.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on May 12, 2025 at 6:56pm

No, we are not on the wrong side of this issue This practice if obviously misleading. "Oohs and aahs" are passing. No one will ever tell me these pastiche cuts are worth as much or more than the item shown.