Question about 1940 Play Ball
 

Yesterday, I bought a 1940 Play Ball Christy Mathewson that was an upgrade to the one I already own. I was looking at the back and I noticed a difference, one has an ad for Superman gum cards and the other doesn't.

Is one version harder to find and does it add to the price?

The superman backs came out with the second series, cards 123 and higher I believe, as part of a promo for the superman release.

The superman ad text at the bottom is rarer, but there doesn't seem to ever be a premium paid for them. Couldn't tell you how much rarer they are, since they too seem pretty easy to find, which is probably why there's no observable value increase.

Thanks Joe.

I was going to trade the lower grade one but now I think I will keep them both.

I've always liked the superman backs (there are actually multiple versions of the superman ad too (see the PSA8(oc) Joe Jackson on eBay right now for a different version than yours)) not because they add any particular value, but the name "superman" is such a huge piece of modern Americana, and these cards basically promo'd the spawn of that franchise.

It's kinda like seeing an ad like "coming soon, coca cola"