Question about 1940 Play Ball

[Jim65]

Yesterday, I bought a 1940 Play Ball Christy Mathewson that was an upgrade to the one I already own. I was looking at the back and I noticed a difference, one has an ad for Superman gum cards and the other doesn't.

Is one version harder to find and does it add to the price?

[phikappapsi]

The superman backs came out with the second series, cards 123 and higher I believe, as part of a promo for the superman release.

The superman ad text at the bottom is rarer, but there doesn't seem to ever be a premium paid for them. Couldn't tell you how much rarer they are, since they too seem pretty easy to find, which is probably why there's no observable value increase.

[Jim65]

Thanks Joe.

I was going to trade the lower grade one but now I think I will keep them both.

[phikappapsi]

I've always liked the superman backs (there are actually multiple versions of the superman ad too (see the PSA8(oc) Joe Jackson on eBay right now for a different version than yours)) not because they add any particular value, but the name "superman" is such a huge piece of modern Americana, and these cards basically promo'd the spawn of that franchise.

It's kinda like seeing an ad like "coming soon, coca cola"