Some time ago, I started a thread about a friend of mine who purchased an ancestral which turned out to be fake. This friend was actually me. I purchased the card from someone I thought was a friend for $235. Turns out he needed rent money more than friendship, so what can you do.
But what happened with the card, and the discovery that it was, in fact, a fake.
Firstly, I had always thought it looked a little funny. The corners were a little misshappen, and there was a little extra border space on the ancestral that didn't exist on any other UL cards I had. I chalked it up to printing issues, as the bend test and light test both passed.
However, as I was re-sleeving it one day, I noticed something odd. Under a very special angle under light, I was able to see almost completely through the card. I tried this test with my other power, and none had this flaw. I tried with other peoples power, and other magic cards, and never found this flaw in any of them.
I began to suspect that I had been duped. So, I stayed a little late after work and brought my ancestral and mox in to use some of the spectrum analysis equipment we have to do a little forensics experiment. I also had my fiancee and her sister look at the card, in some hopes of being wrong.
The results of the testing I did confirmed that I had one of the most impressive fakes I'd seen. I was furious. I couldn't get in touch with the person who sold this to me, and I was very hurt as well.
I initially contemplated just selling it off as real, and not worrying myself with it. But I also would feel horrible doing such a thing. So, I posted the following thread on TMD:
http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=23488.msg362801#msg362801I weighed all the arguments back and forth and had come to the following position:
1) It took me a while to determine that the card was a fake. Therefore, it would probably take someone else a while to determine that the card was a fake, although it may not take all that long.
2) Within a sleeve, it's very difficult, at best, to determine that this is a fake through casual observation.
3) Knowing 2 and 3, I could probably continue to play this as a real ancestral, but neglect to enter non-proxy tournaments.
4) At some point, I should attempt to acqure a real ancestral.
So, I played the ancestral as real. Is this unethical and dirty? Maybe. I believe that its ok since I never benefitted from the card being described as real when it wasn't (no non-proxy prizes or anything), and I've never attempted to sell the card. I've never used it as an extra proxy (read: 11th) since it's the only card I have which is a fake.
I've also just worked out a deal where I will acquire an ancestral which has been confirmed authentic.
So, while this chapter closes, I just want everyone to know that there is 1 less proxy floating around. I may even bring it to waterbury to show off (it _IS_ damn good).
As for the story of how the ancestral came to the person I got it from:
Apparently Slim Jim (the guy I got it from) got it from Gaming Jim, and was told never to sell that or the Time Twister that he had as well. Slim Jim was then let go of OTE employment. He attempted to sell me the ancestral and the twister, but I was able to spot the twister for a fake right away. I didn't spot the Ancestral for a fake however. I haven't been able to get in touch with Slim Jim, but I have been able to get in touch with Mykeatog. Unfortunately, I haven't sent him any high quality scans yet, as I haven't made any.
So, thus ends this little saga.
-Aaron
