Posted By:
MarcTed,
The front of the Piedmont card is Lajoie (with bat). I agree that this example is a darker blue than most others I have seen.
On a side note, the scan of the backs that you just posted above made me realize the similarity in frame design of Polar Bear and Old Mill backs. Not identical but close enough to make the case that it was likely the work of the same artist.
Also, I have noticed that Cycle backs (especially the 460 series) seem to be much tougher than they are often given credit for. Most rankings I have seen place them in the middle range of scarcity with Tolstoi, EPDG, AB, Old Mill, etc but I have seen and owned far more of all of these backs than Cycles. I don't pay much attention to the population reports but I would go so far as to say that I even see more Hindus than Cycles. This would seem to corroborate your theory that Cycles are most akin to Broadleaf and Drum backs though they are clearly not quite to that level of scarcity.