How would I tell if a photo is really vintage

[Leslie]

or just a copy? Is there any sort of "card stock" that they would have used for movie star photos in the late '20s? The Ramon Novarro photo that I have in my images certainly LOOKS old. The stamp in the lower left corner says "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" and Novarro was there from 1925 untl about '34 or '35. Today I took another look at it and the back of it is a bit yellowed as if it has some age. There is also some writing: "Rec'd March 14, 1929" which doesn't really mean anything, of course.
Any help or info appreciated...

[Cliff Aliperti]

It's very difficult and often impossible. Actually the received 1929 writing is a pretty good indicator that that's the date whatever press service received the photo did in fact receive it then (of course anyone could have written that, but if it came from an old collection or you're otherwise aware of its provenance, it's likely a true indicator of receipt).

I often identify originals by the stamps on back, whether it be from the studio or a newspaper and photographer's stamps. An original paper snipe attached on back is good to authenticate a press/wire photo. Key book copies are generally original as are those with embossed censor stamps near the corners.

Honestly though I used to do a lot more with photos but gravitated away from it because there was just no easy way to ID the bulk of them.

[Leslie]

Thanks for the information Cliff!