We decided to discuss Error Cards in this issue because both the 2007 NRL Invincible Series and the 2007 AFL Supreme Series contain errors.

The NRL error is a Wrong Back (actually it’s a wrong front). Card number 130 in the base set is Craig Gower from the Penrith Panthers.

The back of the card correctly contains Gower’s information, BUT… the front of the card featured the picture of Tony Puletua.

Tony Puletua is correctly featured on his own card which is card number 126. If you have the complete set, or a Panthers Team Set take a look for yourself.

Select have already printed and distributed a replacement card for this error. We have a limited supply on hand and will soon be sending out the free correction card to people who have purchased either a Complete Set or Panthers Team set from us recently. Another benefit of buying your cards through us.

We also include both the original card and the correction in the Panthers Team Set for 2007 at no extra cost.

The AFL Legend Hall of Fame sub set includes an error on each of the four cards and the checklist for the entire Hall of Fame set.

While not as obvious as the Craig Gower error it is none-the-less an error — one that unfortunately won’t be fully corrected by Select.

This error falls into the Text Variation category. The cards were printed with the following card numbers.

• LGD13 - Kevin Bartlett
• LGD14 - Bill Hutchinson
• LGD15 - James (Jock) McHale
• LGD16 - Darrel Baldock

However, as the sub set was a continuation of a previous set of Legend cards the numbers should have been:

• LGD17 - Kevin Bartlett
• LGD18 - Bill Hutchinson
• LGD19 - James (Jock) McHale
• LGD20 - Darrel Baldock

Select have only agreed to reprint the Checklist card for the Hall of Fame Sub Set. Not quite as good as the Craig Gower solution, but one that I can fully understand.

Imagine the additional cost to Select in having to reprint 5 cards and distribute them to collectors, as opposed to reprinting just one checklist card. It would be a VERY expensive exercise.

Another Text Variation in the current AFL Supreme release is on the Darren Glass card from the West Coast Eagles (card number 176). On the back of the card, Darren’s name is spelled with 3 R’s. DARRREN.

Why is it important to know all this information? To be sure you don’t get scammed like this next person did!

Unfortunately here’s a little proof that eBay can be a very harsh place for uneducated footy card collectors.

I hope this little piece of information helps protect you if you ever make footy card purchases on eBay.

The story goes a little like this…

A handful of eBay sellers thought they would take advantage of unwary collectors who didn’t understand the situation with the Craig Gower error card (as discussed above).

The sellers lead visitors to believe the error was a rarity… and they neglected to tell anyone just how common the error actually was.

One eBay seller in particular was able to trick a collector in to paying $30 for a single common card.

A pure rip off.

The card would be lucky to be worth $0.50, no more than any other common card released in the series.

I would like to provide you with a link to the item on eBay, but to protect the identity of the BUYER who was tricked into buying the card I’ve decided not to.

Other eBay sellers with a lack of morals tried to jump on the bandwagon and make a quick dollar too… but before long, word had gotten out that the error was indeed printed on every single Gower card produced… and that it was no more valuable than any other common card.

Thankfully, we noticed a number of these sellers sold the card on auction for only $0.99 as collectors became educated.

I understand that eBay sellers have a goal of getting the highest price possible for their items, what I take offense to is the mis-leading tactics (almost trickery) that some eBay sellers resort to, in an effort to rip off collectors.

Karma will get them in the end, but until that happens IF you buy footy cards on eBay please be sure you are comfortable with the reputation of the seller BEFORE bidding. You don’t want to be the person caught out!

EDIT:  This is the scan of the Joel Selwood card mentioned by Kuzjuxcan in his comment below.  It’s hard to see but the last “word” of the description is ??.  Another error.