T206 B&W Reprint Question

[T206Collector]

I have a theory that Paddy Livingston had these black and white T206 cards, complete with black Piedmont backs, made up for purposes of autographs. I got one of these about a year ago, and then the next one about a week ago.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/69_aReVyo4DGLr0JHvuKrjiJm_Z5QsNdec5_I7WHZRE?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AI3Fbw2pDEM/T3T9GbbfTQI/AAAAAAAAKI8/_Ek3JOT4Mis/s800/Livingston_Card.jpg" height="800" width="473" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3fA0DulEC0T-YhUSDJeTMziJm_Z5QsNdec5_I7WHZRE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T1HMN9qyCCo/Ud9Uj5z5qII/AAAAAAAATd4/xoTTg8R0MFA/s800/Livingston_Poor_Mans_T206.jpg" height="800" width="540" /></a>

But then I started thinking more about it, and the fact that these were signed in different places, and one of them was cut down to the same size as a normal T206, makes me think these were not created by Paddy at the same time, if at all. In addition, the fact that the "L" in Livingston was written in because the copy was too faint the same way on both means these were obviously from the same print run. I'm also confused by Paddy's use of the word "catcher" on each -- on one the ink is the same; on the other the ink is different from the signature's ink.

So, what's going on here? Paddy died in 1977. Is anyone aware of a black and white reprint collection of T206 cards that pre-dates 1977? Has anyone ever seen any other cards from this "set"? Where did these things come from? And why are the only ones I've ever seen both signed by Livingston?

[Rob D.]

Most likely scrap or a printing freak. Also most likely an $8,000 card. Not a lot of T206 collectors know how rare these are. When the rest of the hobby catches up, it will be a $25,000 card.

< / sarcasm>

[T206Collector]

These are worth about $20 each. I was just wondering if anyone had seen another from this production or if maybe Paddy made these for the TTM collectors of his signature.

[steve B]

There was a B+W reprint set before 77. But the ones I have are not all that similar. They have a descriptive back, and usually a color frame around the T206 image. They're in the big book under Sport Hobbyist famous card series. One in 64-67, the other in 1971. The 71s were all T206s, but no Livingstone.

Steve B

[cdn_collector]

My first thought was the 1971 Sport Hobbyist T206s, but as Steve notes, they didn't print Livingstone. The front borders are a little different anyway.

A while back there was a thread about T206 reprints and somebody mentioned a 1975 set put out by Nostalgia Press. I've never seen an example or a checklist. It's a bit tight on the timeline, but is still before 1977.

Anyone know what the Nostalgia Press reprints look like (and have a checklist for that matter)?

Regards,

Richard.

Thread I just mentioned: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=81116

[mrvster]

We all know your a "closet freak" collector...;)

[Tom Hufford]

I'm fairly certain that Mr. Livingston had these printed himself. He sent them out with autograph requests for years

[T206Collector]

I'm fairly certain that Mr. Livingston had these printed himself. He sent them out with autograph requests for years

That is exactly what I was hoping. I think that's terrific. To me, the fact that I have found two of these in completely different sales and have never seen another one like them supports that theory.

Thanks for chiming in!