Opinions wanted on this 1934 Babe Ruth in Japan postcard
 

Hi guys, picked this up recently and I'm not sure if it's an original or vintage reprint, or what. What say yous? (sorry, I know they're hug but I thought the more detail the better. Command + - to make smaller!)

Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Connie Mack in there too. Cool.

Even though PSA has graded 71 of them, https://www.psacard.com/pop/baseball...stcards/144269 I believe they were produced in the 1960s or 70s. This ungraded one sold on eBay for $57 and the back has a notation that says "early reprint".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38462184600...p2047675.l2557

I think SGC won't touch these. I have never seen one with a cancelled stamp and it doesn't seem consistent with postcards produced in the 1930s.

Hmm, I wonder how the person who marked theirs as an wary reprint knew that. Interesting.

There's a ton of these cards, definitely not issued in 1934 (in my opinion). I think 1960s (maybe 50s? maybe 70s?) is probably a good estimate. I've had a couple, stock is much thinner than 1930s postcards, printing process is different, design of the reverse is also not-1930s.

Of note: an example was in a Christies auction in late 2020, listing originally made the common assertion that it was from 1934, that dating was later changed:
"Please note a dating change for this lot. Undated, possibly modern era. This lot is now offered without a reserve."
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6296601
That doesn't feel like a move Christie's would make without serious doubts.

That's about as much of an "official" note that it's a later issue as I can find. Postcard dealers (at least in the before covid times) priced this card low (the one I remember buying was something like $25 5 years ago), which is much better proof that it is not rare and not 1930s. Looks like those days are over, with PSA grading them and dealers pretending they are vintage.

Have you looked at this under blacklight?

David

The process used on that is called a PMT, a photomechanical transfer. I know that process was available and utilized in the mid 50's, and through the 60's and into the 70's seems reasonable. There are a few guys on here who have mastery of printing processes and can better tell you; I'm not among them, my knowledge falls short.

I think what Robert and David offered is correct. And early reprint seems likely to me.

Thanks guys. Yeah, from you all have told me, plus a member who PM'd me and spoke with on the phone (who does THAT anymore!?) it seems like this is a 50s-60s reprint. I'll be posting it on Ebay and the For Sale section if anyone is interested. Thanks for the help!

And in case anyone gets duped by these, PSA would likely claim mechanical error since the grading itself was accurate. Just that they were misdated in the catalog information. Looks like the vast majority have graded 4 and 5, with 9 tied for top pop at 6. But good luck getting reimbursed if you buy one for a few thousand only to find out it's from the 50s-60s.