What is this Ruth double RPPC?
 

Can anyone tip me off as to what/when this piece is? Measures 5-3/8"x7", real photo front and "double" postcard back with EKC stamp box that dates to 1930-1950. Text reads "Baseball's greatest personality. He never let the Fans down" with facsimile signature and credit to I.N.S. Photo W.J.G. Ray. Would this be something issued around the time of his death? (considering it refers to him in the past tense)

An idea of value would be nice too, considering it has about a 3/4" tear at the left edge and glue/tape remnants on the back from apparently being in a scrapbook at some point.

I have quite a few different sized postcards, with all kinds of backs, and have never seen one like that.

A real photo postcard is just a photograph that was developed on a thicker paper stock with a postcard back. If I had to guess about this one, I would think that maybe the printer ran out of regular photo paper and used a sheet of postcard paper instead. Or they might have done it accidentally. Either way, I personally wouldn't consider it a "double postcard." Just a printing (as in the stock it was printed on) anomaly.

-Ryan

I agree with Ryan. Great item, I've never seen anything similar.

Fair enough. I really wasn't trying to coin a new term, but didn't know what else to call it in the title that would catch the eye of someone who might recognize it.

So aside from the back anomaly, if it were printed on regular photo stock, what would it be referred to as? Any ideas as to who produced it or when it was issued?

I looks like a "premium" of some sort, more than just a photograph. Awesome piece.

-Ryan

I think Ryan nailed it. Don't do this, but I bet it would be worth more if you cut off the bottom half and called it a 'one-of-a-kind' Ruth postcard.

First off - that is an awesome piece.

Now for the sarcasm... perhaps you could cut it in two and have (2) Ruth PCs. You'd have Ruth's upper half and lower half PCs.

Sorry for the smart a$$ remark - Honestly, that is a truly nice piece.

I don't get it.

I was actually being serious - the upper half would resemble a believable Ruth photo, enough to where it would probably be quite valuable.

As-is, it looks like a premium with a messed-up back.

Okay, now that I've cut it in half, I just need to get a TPG to slab both halves. If I can find me a buyer for a "Babe Ruth's Legs" postcard, I should be able to at least double my money. Maybe I can get them to label it "Babe's Legs" and sell it to a pin-up collector...? :D

(j/k about cutting it, by the way, though I've seen stranger things done. Still looking for any info on this "premium," with or without postcard back. It looks to me like something done shortly after Ruth's passing, but I'm hoping someone can either confirm or deny that more authoritatively)