Please help identify this mystery Cobb card, what the heck is it?

[T206Jim]

Here is a Cobb mystery card that I could use your help identifying. It is approximately 2 x 2.75 inches. It is is on thin cardboard stock typical of cards of the teens and twenties. It is a known Cobb photo which I can't date, but am guessing is from the early twenties. The Kresge's on the back is clearly typed, later or at the time of issue I do not know. The dark portions of the image have silvering as shown in the photos so it is vintage but how vintage?. Any thoughts or theories on what this might be?

[Leon]

Are you sure about the dating of it? Off hand it looks like a fantasy card to me.

[Jobu]

I have no clue about this card, but the bastian of truth that is Wikipedia tells us the following (below) about S.S. Kresge stores. The Detroit connection fits nicely with your card but it obviously goes without saying that there is nothing preventing someone who is making a fantasy piece from typing something relevant on the back. Good luck in your search, I hope you turn up some good news.


"Sebastian S. Kresge, the founder of the company that would become Kmart, met variety store pioneer Frank Woolworth while working as a traveling salesman and selling to all nineteen of Woolworth's stores at the time.[8] In 1897 Kresge invested $8,000 (equivalent to $227 thousand in 2015) saved from his job in joint ownership with his friend John McCrory of a five and dime store in Memphis, to which they added another in downtown Detroit the following year; these were the first S.S. Kresge stores.[9][10][11] After two years of partnership, he paid McCrory $3,000 (equivalent to $85 thousand in 2015) and gave up his share in the Memphis store for full ownership of the Detroit store, and formed the Kresge & Wilson Company with his brother-in-law, Charles J. Wilson.[10][11]. In 1912, Kresge incorporated the S.S. Kresge Corporation with eighty-five stores."

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart#Early_history)

[nolemmings]

Is there printing or embossing in the bottom right front corner that gives a clue?

[T206Collector]

Looks handout from a box to me.

Also, the writing on the front bottom says some illegible things including "Detroit"

[MW1]

Jim,

What are the words that are printed near the lower right corner on the front of the card?

[mybuddyinc]

"Sebastian S. Kresge, the founder of the company that would become Kmart, met variety store pioneer Frank Woolworth while working as a traveling salesman and selling to all nineteen of Woolworth's stores at the time.[8] In 1897 Kresge invested $8,000 (equivalent to $227 thousand in 2015) saved from his job in joint ownership with his friend John McCrory of a five and dime store in Memphis, to which they added another in downtown Detroit the following year; these were the first S.S. Kresge stores.[9][10][11] After two years of partnership, he paid McCrory $3,000 (equivalent to $85 thousand in 2015) and gave up his share in the Memphis store for full ownership of the Detroit store, and formed the Kresge & Wilson Company with his brother-in-law, Charles J. Wilson.[10][11]. In 1912, Kresge incorporated the S.S. Kresge Corporation with eighty-five stores."

Bryan,

I have nothing to add, like normal

However, you just sent me down memory lane, growing up with McCory's, Kresge's and Woolworth's

[bbcard1]

I bought my first 1970 Topps cards at a Kresges in Huntington, WV.

[T206Jim]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The hand cut from a box theory may be plausible.

There is indeed writing in the right corner which does not appear on the copies of this photo I have found, but unfortunately it is not legible even through a glass or loupe magnification.

Using a black light it does fluoresce more than other prewar items I own but less than modern cards and paper which indicates it is more likely than not to be postwar. It does appear to be vintage in hand and I doubt it is a fantasy card. My current guess is probably a 1940's to 1960's piece hand cut from a box or poster and somehow tied into a Kresge's promotion. An interesting piece whatever it is.