Normally black and white cards showing up with color??

[shammus]

Had a friend ask me recently about my experience with the green f50 Harrington's Earl Smith. For those that don't know, that's from the 1928 Harrington's set - normally a black and white set - but for some reason, the Earl Smith card came out all green.

I realize that there's plenty of cards out there that are missing color passes and even some cards that should have full color that you see the very scarce black & white version of. But my question is, how often do you see cards where a color pass has been ADDED, not subtracted during the final print run?

I have one here...a 1923 w572 that has a red tint for some reason or another. Any other colorized examples of B&W cards out there? Any theories as to why they'd have the color added?

234735

[shammus]

Here's the green f50....notice green image on the front and all green text on the back. Seems like this card was a promotion or giveaway at one point ....can't remember why they chose to make it green though.

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[Leon]

I think I had that red strip card. I always really loved it but I think I loved it more than anyone else. :eek: It might have been a trial run, or one off, to see what they would look like in color.


\Had a friend ask me recently about my experience with the green f50 Harrington's Earl Smith. For those that don't know, that's from the 1928 Harrington's set - normally a black and white set - but for some reason, the Earl Smith card came out all green.

I realize that there's plenty of cards out there that are missing color passes and even some cards that should have full color that you see the very scarce black & white version of. But my question is, how often do you see cards where a color pass has been ADDED, not subtracted during the final print run?

I have one here...a 1923 w572 that has a red tint for some reason or another. Any other colorized examples of B&W cards out there? Any theories as to why they'd have the color added?

234735

[DaveW]

The Earl Smith Harrington card was the chase card for the set - the one that kept you from winning a gallon of ice cream. Bob Lempke's blog from September 2009 had a good write up about it when Heritage was trying to sell one for $40k. There were a few different theories about why it was green but nobody is really sure. Nice card - yours must be worth a lot now.

[shammus]

The one shown in the scan is the one I had, but no longer have. When that whole thing with Heritage went down, I happened to already have a 2nd example already sitting in my collection. If I recall correctly, they hyped it, started it at 40k, then the auction was pulled. I can't remember if Heritage ever sold that example but I do remember that when an example of that card was finally sold at auction, it only went for 2k if memory serves. I traded mine right as all the hype was going on that surrounded the card initially.

[shammus]

Heh, Leon, I remember you beat me for the red w572 when it came up for auction initially, several years ago. I think you and I were the only ones bidding on it seriously though. I had a much easier time winning it once you were the one selling it and not competing against me for it :)