Mantle Wire Photos(?)

[Bestdj777]

I recently won these photos as part of a larger lot and would appreciate any insight you may have about them. It is hard to tell from the poor camera phone pictures (I don't have them in hand yet to take my own), but the story line discuss the AP press an indicate that the pictures were taken in 1980. Are these considered wire photos, type 1s, or something else? Also, any idea as to value (I made up for the cost of the lot with the other items so just curious whether there is any value on top). Thanks in advance.

[drcy]

They're called laser photos, which are the equivalent of wirephotos except using laser technology instead of telephone wires. Later versions of wirephotos. At some point AP switched from telephone wires to lasers to transfer their images to newspapers. They aren't originals but official copies made at the time of the date listed in the captions. So they're vintage to the date of the images. They'll likely be of rougher image quality and on cheaper paper, but are official/genuine AP photos and limited in number.

Likely a lot of sellers call them wirephotos, as people know what wirephoto means and they don't want people thinking the word laser means they're home computer reprints. And, as I said, they are modern versions of wirephotos. Calling them wirephotos is technically incorrect (and people accuse me of being technical), but I understand why an eBay seller would advertise them as wirephotos and would consider it no harm no foul. When we were kids my sister would call it "Same difference."

[Bestdj777]

Thank you very much for the insight. It's good to know what they are as the seller did not identify them in the listing. Any guess as to value? Although they are, in my opinion, aesthetically pleasing images, I'd imagine there isn't much in the way of money there given the dates of the images?

[drcy]

I could only guess. Maybe $15-$30 each. They are interesting images and I could see why a Mantle fan would like them. They could go well framed and matted with Mantle autographs. The signing one clearly would go well with a signed index card or whatever and the Mantle/Maris photo is colorful.

Just because they're more modern doesn't mean they're more plentiful than 50s-60s Mantle photos. The older the more financial value and post-playing days are worth less than playing days, but you see more wirephtos than laserphotos.