PM1 pin or something else?

[Rob D.]

Below are some photos of a Lajoie pin I bought on eBay recently. It arrived today and looks even nicer than the scans suggest. The photos are taken from the eBay listing (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320563615846&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT).

Something that has me puzzled is the size. All of the PM1 ornate pins I've seen, which isn't that many because I don't collect them, are roughly 1 inch x 1 inch. This one measures closer to a half-inch by 3/4 of an inch. Granted this isn't an "ornate" frame, but I assumed (as did the seller) that even with the plain frame it is from the same series. Now I'm not so sure. Also, the fact that this one has a stick pin made me pause.

The small size actually might be a blessing because the imperfections that seem to stand out in the scans aren't as noticeable when you're holding the pin.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[slidekellyslide]

Rob, how certain are you that the item is legit? It wouldn't be too hard to use an old stick pin (a couple of dollars) and put in a recently made photocopy.

[Rob D.]

Rob, how certain are you that the item is legit? It wouldn't be too hard to use an old stick pin (a couple of dollars) and put in a recently made photocopy.

That's a valid question, Dan. The paper passes the black-light test. I gave the edges (what I could see) of the paper a close look under magnification, and they appear to be machine-cut (not hand-cut). I would think because of the oval shape -- as opposed to straight edges of a card -- a hand-cut would be more noticeable. There is no dot matrix pattern on the image, which I take as a good sign.

I know that wear is among the most common things to fake, but the fact that there seems to be different kind of wear (a small dent/abrasion in one area, a faint stain in another, one or two dark spots in another) make me think it's legit. Still, yours is a valid point.

Edited to add: The paper that the image has a glossy look to it. Judging the best I can and going by the abrasion, the paper appears to be of somewhat heavy stock -- at least heavier than a card.

[slidekellyslide]

No dots and passing a black light test are all good signs as you said. I recognize the seller ID and I'm pretty sure it is someone I've dealt with before with no problems.

[Leon]

Great pin. I don't think it's a PM1 but just another cool pin. I was the underbidder.....

[FourStrikes]

that is a great pin, and this post prompted me to dig the one shown below out of a display case.....it was purchased in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

it's a 7 inch stick pin with a 1-inch gold ball with a paper ballplayer shellacked(?) to it.....the name "ONeil" or "O'Neill" is below the player.....
whether it's legit or a bogus / fantasy piece, I have no clue.

below are two angles - I am aware that the scans are crappy, but a flatbed scanner and a non-flat item are not exactly a winning combo.



DS

.

[autograf]

Legit and a PM1 variant. I think Jim Sexton has some of these and can probably comment further. I've seen them before usually in much worse condition. Congrats.....what'd the bad boy set you back?

[Rob D.]

Legit and a PM1 variant. I think Jim Sexton has some of these and can probably comment further. I've seen them before usually in much worse condition. Congrats.....what'd the bad boy set you back?

Here's a link to the auction, with all of the particulars:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320563615846&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[autograf]

I would disagree with his characterization of 'unknown to the hobby'. I've seen pictures of them before. I checked Legendary and REA back auctions but didn't see anything. I'm about 99.9% sure Jim Sexton was the one who told me he had some. There's always that .1% though. I was aware of the stickpins. I had about 20+ PM1's at one point. I had 6-8 presidents and the rest BB. They are LONG gone though.....

[docpatlv]

Rob,

I was wondering if it was you that had won that pin. I also think it is legit. The only other player I have seen from that series was Cobb (had the same image as the ornate pin, like the Lajoie). A dealer had one about 15 years ago at the old Ft. Washington show. I think he was asking around $1000 at the time. Congrats on a nice pick-up...you have to PM a link to your collection as I'd love to see what you've added.

Mike

[Leon]

Legit and a PM1 variant. I think Jim Sexton has some of these and can probably comment further. I've seen them before usually in much worse condition. Congrats.....what'd the bad boy set you back?

I am certainly no PM1 expert and will defer to others that know more than I do. The stickpin is what threw me..... IS there some place that catalogued these as PM1's? Just curious......

[perezfan]

Same style Joe Tinker Stick Pin is pictured here....

http://haulsofshame.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/PMruth-back-tinker-back.jpg

[springpin]

A few of the PM-1 pins have also appeared as stickpins. Not sure as to how many.

[khkco4bls]

would that be considered a hat pin

[springpin]

Back at that time in history it was fashionable for men to wear a stickpin just above the breast pocket of a suit jacket, in much the same way today that politicians wear an American flag pin

[sporteq]

Original! I talked to Bob McCann about the same stickpin years ago pre-eBay in SCD auction.

Albert