Opie Dilldock - Oct. 1913, E94 related
 

As an ardent back collector one of the first series I attained, and one of the more difficult, was E94s. So far we have found 10 different backs on our Close Candy cards and there are a few small print anomalies too. I wouldn't be too surprised if we find different backs in the future. What we haven't found much of are the candy ads and wrappers surrounding the different ads (on backs of the cards). Opie Dilldock is one of the overprints. Here is one of the Opie Dilldock cartoons from a 1913 newspaper. Opie had a reputation of finding his way out of difficult situations. The cartoons ran from around 1907 to 1913....

http://luckeycards.com/pe94opiefullpage.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe94opiea.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe94opieb.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe94opiec.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe94opied.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe94opiee.jpg

This one's pretty cool as it gives a bit of evidence from the time period to support the authenticity of the overprints. I've been a believer, but some collectors aren't big on overprints.

I still think the overprints show us at that E94 was mostly not only a George Close issue since you have a "Blome's" example. (Sorry, couldn't resist throwing that in there) Perhaps, only the Close overprinted examples have anything to do with George Close candy.

Very nice Leon!

(Must've been a popular comic to name a candy after it)

Rob

Hey Rob
There are a few non-believers of these overprints. They think they might not be period. However, I have spoken to Rob Lifson, John Rumeriz, Kit Young, Lew Lipset and other hobby veterans and they all confirm their existence from 40+ years ago. Back then these things weren't worth (barely) anything so there would have been no reason to fake them. The E94 overprints have been found in lots of original hobby collections. I have seen 1 fake one....and it was slabbed by SGC. When I saw it my heart went to my stomach. It was a poorly done attempt. It was sent back to SGC where they cracked it out. I eventually bought it and it's in my collection now. There are some telltale signs on it that I am not making public on purpose. Suffice it to say it's not that good of a fake but could easily fool a novice....

http://luckeycards.com/pe94overprintset3.jpg

Very cool, Leon. Not mine, but here's another....

Yeah, I remember the fake one. You have to admit though, it was kind of funny how bad it was.

I remember it was on the buy/sell/trade too.

Yes it was (on both accounts). The minute I saw it I was on the phone to SGC and the seller. The seller was from Ohio....go figure :). And a Blomes wrapper....

http://luckeycards.com/pcandywrapperblomesbag.jpg

We Ohioans aren't ALL bad!! LOL

I'm sure this has been mentioned a thousand times but thanks for putting the quarter in the pictures so we can get a perspective on the dimensions. Is it a single lucky quarter that is used in all pictures? What's the history behind that quarter?!

I have a few quarters I use to show size perspective. Nowadays it's a 1932. I had to use my newer ones in purchases :).

http://luckeycards.com/powrapper1910sclosex2.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/po1903blomesadvertisement.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/poletter7georgeclose.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/poletter3georgeclose.jpg