Help with these 1919 Reds cards - Mystery Solved - Our Boys Reds booklet
 

I have had these for multiple years, and not sure what they are exactly. As you can see they are messed up condition-wise (surprise!), and they remind me of the self developing photo issues like the Tattoo Orbit R308, except were probably somewhat glossy at one time.

Here are the details:

On thin photographic paper

Small amount of gloss remaining on both (the darker, more distinct areas as seen in the scan)

2" x 3" photo size

Pasted on scrapbook paper (the scrapbook paper has red outlining the photos, so the paper was probably designed to display 2 x 3 photos...is that a normal photo size?) The photos themselves are likely trimmed down, as is evidenced by the cut off facsimile autographs

Players are catcher Nick Allen and pitcher Roy Mitchell, who were both on the 1918 and 1919 Cincinnati Reds teams (Allen was also with the team in 1920)

Would love to hear your thoughts on them.

Brian

I think they're just photographs that were pasted to a photo album book page.

Thanks John, I think you are basically correct, but the facsimile autographs make me think that these photos were perhaps produced in quantity. I was originally thinking they might be photos from a magazine, as the paper is fairly thin, but on the Allen I can lift up the photo and see more than half the back, and there is no evidence of print on it.

I never thought these would be anything that special, but finally got around to scan and share. Anyone else have any ideas?

Brian

They are from a set of "cards" issued in a fold out (accordion style) panel of the 1919 Cincinnati Reds. They are sometimes found separated like you have or in complete panel form. Cool items. I have owned the set before.

Thanks Rhett! Because of Rhett I had an idea what to google for (my google wishes came true!), and I was able to find this Heritage Auction listing on the web, just like what Rhett mentioned:

https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-c.../50007-80340.s

And below is a picture of them from the lot, with my Mitchell and Allen second from right on bottom two rows, just in a whole lot nicer shape.


Thanks Net54 and members like Rhett that share their knowledge.

Brian

Link to another one sold by REA

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...ordion-display

Thanks Thomas for tracking down an additional listing of these...it is nice to see it in its original intact, accordion format.

Brian

Very cool.