[bobfreedman]

Yes, based on the date of when the photo was taken and when the photo was produced. You can determine some of this based on the back as well as the content of the photo itself.

For example, you will see "The Babe Bows Out" photo all the time however, a type one is defined as being produced within 2 years of when the actual photo was taken. Several photos of this famous shot were produced afterwards and are a fraction of the price and this is based in part by the date on the reverse and the type of paper used etc. becasue we know exactly when this photo was taken. Others are more difficult of course but what Henry Yee does is amazing. The research etc. are incredible.

There is a great book out that explains a lot of what your concerns are named "A Portrait of Baseball Photography" by Fogel, Yee and Oser. I would get it