They are proofs to the extent that they are the actual photographs used to produce the N172 & N173 cards. In their book Miller, Gonsowski, and Masson do list Fearnaught Photographic Studios of Indianapolis as the photographic studio that took the 1888 shots for the Detroit and Indy teams so everything checks out with this cabinet--except for the truly unfortunate trim job! Essentially, Fearnaught took the pictures that they then leased (or sold) to Goodwin & Co. for use as N172 and N173's.
FRANK SCHEIBECK is among the tougher N172's -- not that that really matters when we are talking about these cabinets but it makes it a little cooler in my book.
