Differences in 1939-46 Salutation Exhibits

[GregMitch34]

I picked up the card below last night simply because it had the sharpest image of Ted that I've seen on one of these, but it made me wonder--I know these were produced over severals years but what's the dope on all the different versions--from the soft-focused black and whites to rather nice sepia/brown? When and why? And presume no real difference in value?http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1397073759

[Leon]

We have some very knowledgeable Exhibit guys on the board so maybe they will chime in. I can't recall them being listed differently except for, with "Sincerely" and without.

[Harford20]

Greg,
Ted Williams is a special case in the exhibits cards. On other exhibits, I have no knowledge, but on Ted, I have been working on this for several years. Yours is the card I have listed below as #1. I have documented four different "tone" variations of the above (#9 NOT Showing) card:
1) "Printed in USA", Black & White tone
2) "Printed in USA", Light Brown tone
3) "Printed in USA", True Sepia tone
4) "Printed in USA", Green tint tone (have only seen in auction once, and cannot verify the color of the tint personally)

Now, there are multiple other variations of the "Made in USA" versions. I have documented two different fonts of the "Made in USA" version, as well as some different cropping versions (the so called small projection and large projection). I am not convinced that the tone versions of the "Made in USA" are TRUE versions or just aging. Based on that, I feel that the versions of these cards are:
5) "Made in USA", Short/Fat font, Small Projection
6) "Made in USA", Short/Fat font, Large Projection
7) "Made in USA", Tall/thin font, Small Projection
8) "Made in USA", Tall/thin font, Large Projection

For the sake of clarity, I have left OUT the Ted Williams #9 Showing, although I believe there is only one variation of this card (and I believe Ted's earliest Exhibit card).

Now, I am also convinced that there are more versions of Ted out there that I have yet to find, as looking at the playing years he had, and the transition of the exhibits over those years, I feel that there are more variations to find.

If you are even more interested, I have tried to match these fonts with current known fonts and have measurements of the printing to determine differences. I have much more data at home, including documented photos and such, just not at my fingertips at work. Send me an email if interested.

Dave

Edited: I am getting older and forgetting things.
The card above listed as:
4) "Printed in USA", Green tint tone (have only seen in auction once, and cannot verify the color of the tint personally)
is not a "Printed in USA" card but a "Made in USA" Tall/Thin font

Also, upon review of my photos, I have a photo of a "more gray than sepia" version of the "Made in USA" Short/fat font, but again, I am not convinced that a variation of color (vs aging) exists with this font version.

Dave

[Harford20]

In review of documentation, the years of the cards can also be documented based on the "Exhibit Supply Company Baseball Dating Chart" that can be found on the internet.

Ted #9 Showing dates to 1939-1941
Ted #9 Not Showing ("Made in USA" tall/thin font, measuring 9/16") dates to 1946
Ted #9 Not Showing ("Made in USA" short/fat font, measuring 5/8") dates to 1948 (although if a 1/2" version is noted it would date to 1947)
Ted #9 Not Showing ("Printed in USA") dates to 1957-1960 (the Dating chart has two fonts listed here, based on the spacing of the "U.S.A" and the periods. It dates wide spacing to 1957-1959 and the narrow spacing at 1960)

As many will quickly note, there were many other Exhibits versions made in years that have not been listed above. There may be Ted cards for these font/listing versions that I just have not found yet.

Too passionate about this stuff,
Dave

[GregMitch34]

Dave, thanks, I can't figure out where my card (as posted) fits in your dating section. Also, seems like must be two variations of the black & white or gray cards--it seems that image on my card is MUCH sharper than the soft-focused usually seen....

[Harford20]

Greg, I can't disagree with you. The card shown has a very nice black/white contrast. I would expect it would date from 1960 as all B&W versions with the "Printed in USA" that I have documented are from that year (listed as 1960 in the Dating Chart as well as all I have seen have the periods very close to the letters in U.S.A.).

You have a very nice card, and as you noted, although I have documented so many different versions, the only ones I have found that have a cost premium are (of course) Ted #9 Showing, and the Ted#9 Not Showing green tint version.

Dave

[Gamebits]

Please excuse my ignorance but the "showing", "not showing" refers to what exactly?

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by Gamebits

Please excuse my ignorance but the "showing", "not showing" refers to what exactly?

[Gamebits]

You know that deep feeling of being stupid, I had the mind set that the #9 referred to the card number even though I know Exhibits cards are not numbered.

Thanks for showing me the way.

[Exhibitman]

Can't add all that much except that the card was printed into at least 1961 so there are very likely as many variations as there are print runs from the late 1940s through 1961.

[smtjoy]

IMO that Williams had the longest print run of any exhibit. From past lots I have purchased the long version "Made in the USA" was the oldest of the No #9.