Mel Ott photo

[jason.1969]

A couple questions about this Mel Ott photograph, which you may also recognize from his Goudey, Diamond Stars, Butterfinger, and Worch Cigars baseball cards.

Seller claimed to have purchased in RObert Edward Auction about 20 years. Recalls buying it as a Conlon photo from 1929 or something around there.

I am thinking it is not at all genuine. On the other hand I have never before seen this photo on the market, which at least makes me wonder if there might be something to it beyond cheap knock-off.

Let me know if you have any thoughts. I tried the REA website but they don't seem to go back far enough with their auction results.

Thanks,
Jason

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[Robbie]

Hi Jason,

This is a photo made from another photo, and not from the original negative... perhaps even a couple generations down.

It is difficult to say without examining the actual photo and the paper, but it was likely printed well after when the original photo was taken. I'm sorry.

Originally Posted by jason.1969

A couple questions about this Mel Ott photograph, which you may also recognize from his Goudey, Diamond Stars, Butterfinger, and Worch Cigars baseball cards.

Seller claimed to have purchased in RObert Edward Auction about 20 years. Recalls buying it as a Conlon photo from 1929 or something around there.

I am thinking it is not at all genuine. On the other hand I have never before seen this photo on the market, which at least makes me wonder if there might be something to it beyond cheap knock-off.

Let me know if you have any thoughts. I tried the REA website but they don't seem to go back far enough with their auction results.

Thanks,
Jason

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[jerseygary]

I don't think it's a Conlon, unless he traveled to the West Coast and changed his photography style.

I suspect this picture was taken in spring training 1932 or 1933 because the background looks like LA's Wrigley Field, and the Giants spent the spring there during those 2 seasons. Probably would have gone back in subsequent years but the team got caught up in the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake and that kind of soured most of the team on returning to LA in the spring.

Regardless if it's a real Type 1 or not, thanks for posting it, I've never seen this one before. Always wondered what the original Diamond Star photo looked like!

[jason.1969]

Thanks for the info! That's a great call on the west coast Wrigley. I knew I was rolling the dice on the purchase, but it's starting to feel more and more like a photo of a photo. That said, if the original photo has largely disappeared from the world, maybe a photo of a photo is still a neat thing to hang onto--particularly when there's still the nice Goudey tie-in.

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[todeen]

Definitely is a photo of a photo. You can see that it has been cropped when compared with the 1934 Butterfinger. He is missing his elbow. The original would certainly contain all of the Butterfinger detail if not more.

http://loveofthegameauctions.com/lot-7777.aspx

[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by todeen

Definitely is a photo of a photo. You can see that it has been cropped when compared with the 1934 Butterfinger. He is missing his elbow. The original would certainly contain all of the Butterfinger detail if not more.

http://loveofthegameauctions.com/lot-7777.aspx

I think you hit the nail on the head. Only small change is I think it's a photo of the Worch Cigars card. Reason is the Butterfinger auto is high up enough on card that it would have ended up in my photo. Worch auto is a bit lower and seems to match exactly where mine is cropped.