T206 Mathewson white cap vs. dark cap, why such a huge difference in pop. report?
 

I never knew that this existed with these 2 varieties of Mathewson. Tremendous difference between the numbers of the two:

Dark cap: PSA 5- 141 White cap: PSA 5- 45
PSA 6- 80 PSA 6- 33
PSA 7- 36 PSA 7- 10
PSA 8- 14 PSA 8- 9

Total dark cap-271 Total white cap-97


What's even more amazing is the dark cap has a higher SMR price than the white cap! I wish someone could explain this to me. Ted Z where are you?

I would imagine the pop report difference is due to the dark cap being a superprint. Not sure about why SMR would value dark cap higher. Maybe there are more recorded sales of the dark cap since they are more prevalent. Just a stab in the dark on that one.

The dark cap is much more attractive to most collectors. The white cap is still common, just not 'super print' common.

Personally, I like the white cap a lot, but the dark cap is kind of special.

the dark cap is confirmed with 21 different backs

the white is confirmed with 10 different backs

Kevin

I have larger pop report numbers for both these Matty cards. In any event, as Dean has noted, the Dark Cap Matty is a super-print. And, was most likely
Double-Printed (D-P). I say this since the Red Cobb is also a super-print; and, there is evidence that it was D-P.
Add to that fact, that the T-brand backs ratio of the Dark Cap version vs. the White Cap version is approx. 2 / 1 ....there should be many more Dark Cap
than White Cap Matty's.

This is anecdotal, but my experience selling Matty's for 30 years is that collectors are willing to pay a somewhat more for a White Cap Matty than a Dark
Cap Matty. I would guess that the less White Cap Matty's is the reason for this. Yes, this contradicts your findings; and, I cannot explain why ?


Best regards,

TED Z

Not trying to hijack the thread but the Lundgren KC vs Chicago PSA pop report vs SMR price has me scratching my head. Being more of a Cub collector as opposed to t206 collector, I've never understood the dramatic difference.

Lundrgen (piedmont):
pop - KC 88 vs Chi 108
SMR(3) - $40 vs $225

Somebody please enlighten me.