W-575-2 (Autograph on Shoulder) Cards / Variations

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Posted By: Paul

Are there any experts out there for the W-575-2 set? I am beginning to think that this set is actually two or three distinct issues, or perhaps one set with two or three types or variations.

I own four of these cards. Three of them (Cobb, Frisch, and Kelly) are on a very white, somewhat glossy stock. Of these three, two of them (Cobb and Frisch) are on thin stock, while Kelly is on stock that has to be twice as thick.

My fourth card is Hornsby, which I just picked up from Kit Young. It is on a much cheaper, non-glossy, somewhat yellowed stock. Some of the yellowing could be due to age, but it is definitely a different stock. It has about the same thickness as the Cobb and Frisch.

My initial thought was that some (or all) of these were fake. But I sent them off to our resident photography and printing expert (Thank you again!), and he assures me that all four cards are vintage cards, using a printing technique that went out of fashion long ago.

So it seems like there are some very distinct variations in this set -- Thin, glossy white stock, thick glossy white stock, and thin non-glossy not-so-white stock.

Have any of you noticed this before? Any ideas what's going on? Also, why are these classified as "W" cards? They sure don't look like they were issued in strips, and they don't seem to have any connection to W-575-1.

Thanks.

Paul

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Posted By: hankron

Paul is correct in that the cards were vintage/genuine but, despite sharing ths same basic 'sig on shoulder' design, not all appeared to be from the same issue or series or whatever. The Hornsby was unique in not unsubtle ways. As this was the only group I'd seen in person, I'll let others sort out the details.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

he's a good resource at jdrum25215@aol.com or hrbaker on ebay.