Comprehensive Exhibit Supply Co (ESCO) Information

[smtjoy]

Ok here is my start on this, hopefully Adam, Matt, Jimmy and some of the other exhibit collectors can add to it.

Ranking exhibit card scarcity-

Ranked from a type card collectors view of only needing one card from each (based on finding one on an ebay 7 day auction)-

Very Scarce
1933
1926-29 Baseball/Boxers 4 on 1

Scarce
1922 Eastern Exhibit
1923-24
1926
1926-29 Baseball 4 on 1
1928 PCL
1929 Star Picture Stamp Ruth-Dempsey
1931-32
1938

Uncommon
1925
1926-29 PC
1927
1928
1929-30
1934
1935
1936
1937
1962 Stat Back- Red Ink

Common
1921 ($20-40)
1922 ($20-40)
1939-46 Salutation ($2-5)
1947-66 ($1-3)
1962 Stat Back- Black Ink ($2-5)
1963 Stat Back ($2-5)


OK looking at it from a player collector view of needing one certain card-

Very Scarce (up to 10+ years to get)
1928 PCL
1933
1926
1938
1931-32

Scarce (up to 5 years to find)
1923-24
1922 Eastern Exhibit
1925
1926-29 PC
1926-29 Baseball 4 on 1
1929-30
1929 Star Picture Stamp Ruth-Dempsey
1939-46 Salutation SP's

Uncommon (1-3 Years to get)
1927
1928
1934
1935
1936
1937
1947-66 SP's
1962 Stat Back- Red Ink

Common (within 2 years)
1921
1922
1939-46 Salutation Commons
1947-66 Commons
1962 Stat Back- Black Ink
1963 Stat Back


And finally from a set collectors view on needing every card-

Nearly Impossible (20+ years to lifetime to complete)
1926
1926-29 Baseball/Boxers 4 on 1
1928 PCL

Very Hard (10+ years to complete)
1923-24
1925
1926-29 PC
1931-32
1933
1939-46 Salutation

Scarce (5-10 years to complete)
1922 Eastern Exhibit
1926-29 Baseball 4 on 1
1929-30
1938

Tough (3-5 years to complete)
1927
1928
1934
1935
1936
1937
1962 Stat Back- Red Ink

Common (1-3 years to complete)
1921
1922
1947-66
1962 Stat Back- Black Ink
1963 Stat Back

[Exhibitman]

Several sets are missing:

The 1928 PCL issue is 32 of the worst pains in the neck you will ever chase. I'd put them right up there in the top 3.

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1513

I'd also put completing the PC backs up there towards the top because of the short prints:

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1516

Also, the mixed baseball-boxing PC back 4 on 1 series: as far as I know no one has a complete set. There are four known cards but a fifth is very likely (details to be shared once I finish writing them up for my blog):

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1515

Also, the PC back 4 on 1s w/4 ballplayers. Very few of those around and an uncatalogued one (Miller, Collins, Kelly, Klein) just sold in the last Legendary auction:

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1514

[smtjoy]

Ohh thanks Adam, correct thats near the top, Added-

[Jacklitsch]

Adam is right. 5 or 6 of those 28 PCL's popped up on eBay this year but before then I don't think I had seen one offered in years.

Nice work Scott!!!

[smtjoy]

Adam, how scarce would you rank the 4 on 1 boxers/baseball cards? In the last 4-5 years I have only seen two for auction so my guess would be near the top and doing a set nearly impossible to complete.

[calvindog]

Adam, this makes two. Do you know where we can see the other images?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/3507120741/" title="1920s Exhibit Four on One: Criqui-Shade-Judge-Cobb by calvindog65, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3507120741_4105fd9c9a_o.jpg" width="500" height="919" alt="1920s Exhibit Four on One: Criqui-Shade-Judge-Cobb" /></a>

[rhettyeakley]

The PCL Exhibits are extremely tough to come by. I have never heard of a complete set being offered EVER. Here are the two that I managed to keep for myself... (Don't let the fact that this is the 2nd Averill to be shown fool you, these are TOUGH!)
http://www.starsofthediamond.com/28expclaverill.JPG http://www.starsofthediamond.com/pclexthurston.JPG

[buymycards]

Hi guys,
I'm not sure where this one would fall on the difficulty scale. Any idea's?
Rick

[Exhibitman]

Adam, this makes two. Do you know where we can see the other images?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/3507120741/" title="1920s Exhibit Four on One: Criqui-Shade-Judge-Cobb by calvindog65, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3507120741_4105fd9c9a_o.jpg" width="500" height="919" alt="1920s Exhibit Four on One: Criqui-Shade-Judge-Cobb" /></a>

http://www.americasgreatboxingcards.com/Catalog_Updates.html

[Exhibitman]

Adam, how scarce would you rank the 4 on 1 boxers/baseball cards? In the last 4-5 years I have only seen two for auction so my guess would be near the top and doing a set nearly impossible to complete.

Right towards the top.

[calvindog]

Adam, thanks, your article is helpful. I won mine in I believe Lipset's auction this past April and was not certain what I had.

[Exhibitman]

OK, so here's the news on the 4-on-1s:

About a month ago a dealer auctioned off two 10-card strips of boxng cards. He had no idea what they were. I recognized them immediately as being a strip card issue made from the art on the 4-on-1s. My only hope was that they were authentic. I'm guessing other folks had similar questions because they sold for just over $11 a card. I got them and examined them closely and they are definitely the real deal. Much thinner stock than an Exhibit so they would be immediately discernable on examination as not being exhibit cut down pieces.

Here's where it gets interesting for card nerds like me: There are two boxers on the strip not yet known on the 4-on-1s. Harry Greb and Johnny Dundee. I have seen a George Kelly cut piece of an exhibit and own a Jack Smith cut piece of an exhibit. Neither player is featured on the currently known four 4-on-1 cards. I think there is at least one more 4-on-1 card with Kelly, Smith, Dundee and Greb.

Interestingly, I have never seen an actual strip card of a ballplayer. The three individual players I've seen all were 1/4 of an exhibit card. The two strips I bought were the first boxer strips I'd ever seen (I've not seen a cut down 1/4 boxer).

Between this and the new 4-on-1 from Legendary, my Exhibit cup runneth over!

The Star Picture Stamp Ruth-Dempsey: There are at least two version, btw, one shown and one with red on pink print. They are pretty difficult to find--it has been a while since I last saw one offered. I'd put it up around the same level of scarcity as the Ruth portrait from the movie issue that is also in the SCD book and also the 1925 Champions Ruth. I'd peg all three around the same level as the short prints from the PC back set. On a total tangential note, does anyone have a good checklist of the 1925 Champions? I am a handful short of the [presumed] 32 cards on my checklist.

[buymycards]

Thanks for the info. I'd love to see the other Star Picture Stamp card. Anybody have a scan of one?

Rick

[Exhibitman]

Happy Holidays, Rick!

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1521

PS: Doesn't Douglas Fairbanks look like Floyd The Barber?

http://amayberrystateofmind.com/images/Floyd2.jpg

[Rickyy]

This is a great thread. I appreciate all the back ground on the issues since I'm trying to collect several HOF exhibit cards (only exception to my type card collecting which also includes all the exhibit cards by year).

I've noticed in my hunt certain cards of each year are harder to find than others (both HOF and non HOF cards). The toughest for me to find so far was the Earle Combs 25 exhibit. That one was harder to locate than the PCL exhibit cards.

Also I'm still looking for a salesman sample exhibit cards with the advertisement stamped on the card..I've seen very few of those. One came up awhile back on ebay...I think it was for Ken Williams.

Ricky Y

[bbcarddan]

Where would postcard backed 47-66 exhibits fall in terms of rarity on this list?I think they should be considered as a separate issue from the regular 47-66`s .I am not sure on this but I think they were issued for only one year and that a complete set could be put together.Where would odd ball backs or playing card Exhibits be ranked in terms of scarcity on this list?There are so many little known variations it`s hard to keep track,but it`s fun to try.Here are some examples,the Dad`s cookies and Cobb are not mine just scan`s I saved.Always love a good Exhibit thread!

[Exhibitman]

The Sauer is a 1955 issue which sometimes has "A Mutoscope Card" in the vertical dividing line. I've often wondered about the deal with those, i.e., why they were made and why the Mutoscope reference. The cookie card and the other card really should be classified as D and M sets, respectively, in the way that strip cards or M116s used for other businesses should be treated as those sorts of sets. All three are quite difficult.

That playing card design is an arcade card but it isn't an Exhibit card. I've got a few. The stock and images are not ESCO standard.

[bbcarddan]

Thanks for the clarification Adam,I assumed the playing card "Exhibits" for lack of a better term were some sort of issue like the 61 Wrigley`s Exhibits.I also wondered why they did the postcard back on those 47-66`s.

[smtjoy]

Thanks for all the post, some great info on this thread!

I remember bidding on that salesman sample, really wishing I had bid much harder on it back then.

Adam could you please post one of the 55's with the Mutoscope back, I have a couple and they all have the same as the PC exhibits.

Here are a couple more different backs, the triple nickle books is on a 47-66 Lemon, and the Playland is on a 39 Salutation Dizzy Dean.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Exhibit%20Collection/47exlemontriplenicklebookback.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smtjoy/Exhibit%20Collection/39saldeanplaylandback.jpg

[marfak]

Very interesting, Scott. In my experience (15 years of chasing baseball Exhibits) the 1923-1924, 1926 and 1933 sets are very tough if not impossible. The Salutation set hung up the Gehrig, Averill and Kreevich but I got it done eventually. The others are just going to take a lot more time and $$$.

[buymycards]

Thanks Adam, very nice!

Rick

[Exhibitman]

Also I'm still looking for a salesman sample exhibit cards with the advertisement stamped on the card..I've seen very few of those. One came up awhile back on ebay...I think it was for Ken Williams.

Ricky Y


http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1523

[autograf]

I have 20ish or so of the 47-66 exhibits with the Mutoscope postcard backs. I bought them from a dealer at the national one year while looking through his normal exhibit binder. They are REALLY scarce as I haven't seen any since then other than yours. I'll try to dig 'em out and post the names that I have here if I can find them quickly.

[Rickyy]

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture.php?albumid=23&pictureid=1523


Sweet Adam! That's it! :D

[wrapperguy]

My father, who turned 90 today, began collecting Exhibits and now has passed his love for postcard-style cards to me. I agree that the 1926s in particular are extremely tough, unless I am looking in the wrong places. We still need over 70 of them and never see one, and then when I do, it is one we already have. I have made significant progress on the 1923-24 set in the past few years and only need the Gonzales and Ruth. All the other Exhibits sets between 1921-1928 can be had with a little patience and money. Of the 4-in 1s, it is a terrific year if I can get one 1931-32 or 1933 knocked off the list. Tough to find particularly when you only need a few to complete the sets. The search continues and getting one still brings a smile to Dad's face.

[Exhibitman]

My father, who turned 90 today, began collecting Exhibits and now has passed his love for postcard-style cards to me. I agree that the 1926s in particular are extremely tough, unless I am looking in the wrong places. We still need over 70 of them and never see one, and then when I do, it is one we already have. I have made significant progress on the 1923-24 set in the past few years and only need the Gonzales and Ruth. All the other Exhibits sets between 1921-1928 can be had with a little patience and money. Of the 4-in 1s, it is a terrific year if I can get one 1931-32 or 1933 knocked off the list. Tough to find particularly when you only need a few to complete the sets. The search continues and getting one still brings a smile to Dad's face.

That is so great that you and your Dad can share this.

[wrapperguy]

Thanks, Adam. It is special. Starting at the 1982 or 83 Chicago National, Dad and I went to a ton of shows together. Then, I started taking my sons to the shows to have their pictures taken with the autograph guests. It was costly then but outrageous today with the "Photo Opp Extra $20". Dad would hold one or both of my sons while I took the snapshot. They had their picture taken with DiMaggio, Mantle, Ali, Aaron, you name it. Had the photos enlarged and then sent them away for autographing. Had them personalized, again, costly but outrageous today with the "Personalizations Extra $15". It was awesome to have 3 generations of Schwarzes at the shows and looking at the photos brings back fond memories. Sorry to go off on a tangent to the thread.

[fkw]

This example shows IMO why these 4-in-1 cards were meant to be cut up into smaller cards like strip cards.

http://centuryoldcards.com/images/19264-1chaplincobb.jpg http://centuryoldcards.com/images/uncbluetint.jpeg

[Exhibitman]

Actually, Frank, nearly all I've ever seen are PC backed, which indicates an intent on the mfg part not to cut them up but to use them as postcards. There are also ESCO nonsports cards that have explicit cutting instructions on them, such as the Tenderfoot series or the poker chips, so it seems that the company was capable and willing to say when its products were meant for cutting.

Is the Judge "single" the same thickness as the 4 on 1 next to it?

[Exhibitman]

Here is the mutoscope variation on the PC backs from the 1950s:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/interestingexhibitcards/websize/Sauer%20Mutoscope%20Back.jpg

As far as the PCL set goes, a full set was auctioned off a few years back at the National for approx. $35,000

[thegashousegang]

First of all, thanks to everyone in this thread - there's a lot of useful info for Exhibit collectors.

I've been collecting the 1921 set almost exclusively - and I'm now ready to venture into the rest of the 20's and 30's. Does anyone know of a site that has a full gallery of the Exhibits sets? VCP does a fantastic job of showing most of the scans (and Oldcardboard has some), but there are still some missing images I would like to see from some of these sets. Since there are some years that use the same image as a previous set, I'm trying to get everything straight in my research before I begin actively buying other issues. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Exhibitman]

I don't know of anywhere that has one. It is really only the 21-22-23 repeated players (like Ruth) that will mess with you since the 25s and 26s have year-specific typefaces, the 27s and 28s are different colors than the others, and the 1930s are all distinctive one way or another (but you will need a Standard Catalog) to sort them out; I still do & I've been collecting them for 20+ years). The old Beckett memorabilia book (and I mean old; 1980s) used to cover 21-22-23 in one omnibus listing which actually helps sort them out.

FWIW, I've grown convinced over time that the 21-23 issues flowed one into the other with some of the 1922s replacing some of the 1921s and some of the 1923s replacing some of the 1921s and 1922s. I think that's why you see some 1921's and 1922's more commonly than others and why you see some reused artwork but with different borders or different cropping in the 1923-4 issue--ESCO was trying to cut corners by issuing less than full new sets every year and was recycling its art but still claiming a new set. ESCO then seems to have realized that it could do OK with new cards and issued new sets (albeit with recycled images) until the [last] Depression, then recycled the images again into the 4 on 1s that it also seems to have redesigned every year with minor adjustments to tints and player selection. After the 4 on 1s burnt out we know for a fact that ESCO flowed one year's issue into the next from 1939-66; there is a scan on my site of a full sheet with a Salutations Ted Williams and a Rocky Colavito in Detroit gear (he was traded after the 1960 season for Kueen) on it, which means that some Salutations were issued until at least 1961.

[smtjoy]

Hey Jimmy,

Great advice from Adam, use SCD for most and you will be fine. I will say when buying the 4 on 1's dont just follow what the flip or listing says but look at the card and you id it because so many are listed/graded wrong.

The 1923 are really the only issue I had a hard time figuring out but you dont see many of them and plenty of people here who can help you out.

Good luck and enjoy the new sets!

[thegashousegang]

Thanks for the extra advice guys. I think the only issue left is if I do not plan to collect some year's sets - for example, if I want a nice example of a player that appears in a few sets I might want to buy the best looking one instead of choosing the earliest issue. Without scans of all of them, I guess I have little choice than to play the waiting game until one is for sale...or just get whatever pops up (besides the fact that some years are extremely tough to find at all). I guess that's just part of the fun of collecting, right!

[deadballera]

a couple of Arbuckle exhibits...

[Exhibitman]

As far as image desirability goes, I think you'll find that the images are more or less repeated from 1921-24 and 1925-28. A few are different but many more are recycled.

[Ladder7]

Just found a new favorite thread. Important info... Great work!

[Aric]

Does anyone have or know where I can find the old street address for the Exhibit Supply Company in chicago?

I live in Chicago and am interested to know where it was located.

[glchen]

I won the set of five 1926-29 Baseball/Boxers 4 on 1 Exhibits from the Lipset auction that just ended: Link (http://www.oldjudge.com/auction/exhibits/231/). So obviously, the set was not impossible as somebody had "completed" it. Saying that however, I think these are different variations as two of these cards have sideways movie scenes in them, which I'm not sure have been seen before. When I receive the cards, I'll post bigger scans including scans of the fifth card not shown by Lipset.

[Exhibitman]

Nice pick-up Gary. The last two baseball players [Smith and Kelly] were ones that I knew were out there because I have cuts of both. It should complete the known ballplayers because the same art was issued in ten-card strips, at least for the boxing:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneouscards/large/W-Unc%20purple%20strip.jpg

And there are known baseball strips too:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneouscards/W-Unc%20Cobb.jpg

The only way to tell them apart accurately is to hold them in hand and compare them--the strips are thinner and slicker than the Exhibits.

As for the interplay of movie and sports, there are cards known with baseball and boxing, baseball and movies, boxing and movies, and movies only.

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/interestingexhibitcards/websize/4_on_1_Lloyd_Keaton.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/4on1pcbackset/websize/4%20on%201%20Daniels%20Semon%20Walker%20Carpentier .jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/4on1pcbackset/websize/4%20on%201%20Criqui%20Shade%20Keaton%20Lloyd.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/4on1pcbackset/websize/4%20on%201%20judge%20cobb%20chaplin%20prevost.jpg

I don't think it is possible to exhaustively catalog every combo. I have scans of several different movie-only cards that I will have to dig out and post.

[glchen]

Finally got around to getting the scans for these cards.

[glchen]

And the back scans

[Theoldprofessor]

While it's true that most Salutations are easy to find (though not quite as easy if you care about unmarked backs), there are a few that are quite difficult.

Of course, you'd never guess what they are by looking at SMR prices. Excluding Williams, DiMaggio and the like, whose cards are always costly because they're legendary HOFers, SMR somehow would have us believe that Jimmie Foxx is a difficult card, as is Glenn Russell. Not so -- they're even easy to find on eBay. But I've seen two Rizzos in years of looking, and the same number of Hartnetts and Averills. SMR has been wrong about all of these cards for years.

But the set is still entertaining to chase, and vey rewarding to complete.

[Exhibitman]

SMR is wrong about a lot of stuff.

Rizzo was definitely the toughest card in the set. I got plain lucky on that one--a non-collector posted a group of saluations on ebay and I made an offer for an immediate purchase that the seller took.

Hugh Mulcahy was a toughie too. He was actually the last card in the set for me.

Hartnett was pretty tough too.

Lombardi's waist-up portrait is tough.

And let's not forget Gehrig, which is both tough and desirable.

[JasonD08]

I am missing only Gehrig. How tough is he in EX or better? I have looked for several years and found none. I just finished a master 1947 set with color variations that I know about. Is there any experts on the 1947s who would have a master list with all color variations?

Jason

[smtjoy]

Great set Gary, those are awesome!!

On the Salutations I am down to Hartnett, Klein and Lombardi, and throw the smr out on this set not even close for the sp's. Just had to trade heavy in their favor to land a low grade Gehrig, have never seen an ex+ one for sale. My 47-66 set is just the basic version but I know two collectors who have bought color 47-66 variations from me and are looking for them so I would guess they are a few working on a master set. Have not heard of a checklist of them yet.

[glchen]

The recently ended Old Judge auction had a large lot of Salutations for sale, including an EX Gehrig, however w/ writing on the back (not sure if in pencil) here: Link (http://www.oldjudge.com/auction/late-additions/417/).

[JasonD08]

Both of those exhibit lots were good buys. I didnt see them due to late additions. I think the 39-46 was a steal at under $4k. Any guesses on what a solid EX-EXMT 1947-66 complete set would fetch? My guess on the 39-46 would be $8K.

[Theoldprofessor]

Bought it ungraded for $500 about ten years ago.

62796

[JasonD08]

Nice Bob..........Let me know when it is available.

Jaosn

[Exhibitman]

Noticed a sizing difference in the common Salutations Williams today. I stripped a piece out of the card on the left and imposed it over the card on the right. The image of Williams is indeed bigger on the card on the left, as you can see when I align the face:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/cardimages/websize/Salutations%20Williams%20Variations%20.jpg