Can anyone identify these Toledo Mud Hens Cards?
 

Hi everyone,

I recently came across these "cards" of players from the Toledo Mud Hens. The borders are irregular, almost like they were cut off of a cereal box or maybe out of a photo album or something like that. It feels like the cardboard is a little thicker than a typical trading card. There is no print on the back.

Does anyone know what they are?

Thank you in advance...

The only thing I can add is that I think these players are from the 1899 Mud Hens.

Have you put a black light on them? Do they fluoresce??

I don’t have a black light. What information would that give you?

Were they glued to a scrapbook? It kind of appears they were crudely removed from something. What is the thickness of the “cards”. I wonder if it was a composite team photo originally and was cut up.

You know, I couldn't tell you for sure if they were removed from a scrapbook, I got them in this condition, but it wouldn't be a shock if that is their story. It looks like they have a backing that has potentially been glued on.

Just after WW II, paper manufacturers commenced to add brighteners to paper. Makes it look better. Brighteners fluoresce when exposed to uv light. Black light, ultraviolet light. If those cards fluoresce, then they come from the late 1940s to 2025. Black lights would cost you about $20 or a bit less. They can potentially quickly save you from paying a few thousand dollars for a cool looking $2 card. Google "optical brighteners wikipedia"

The cards look real. But... tearing them apart doesn't seem to be something that someone would have done a few years ago. I'd think someone tearing it apart would have been a kid from about 110 years ago, or a kid of that kid about 20 years later. However, the edges of those cards don't look like they were torn apart that long ago... cards torn apart 90 years ago would have more wear on the edges, fraying would be present.

So, I lack certainty, about the cards' authenticity. A black light would be an easy test. Those things could be from the 1890s - 1900s. Or they could be from a mailing, a promotion, a book page or insert, from the 1960s or more recent times. If they don't fluoresce, they may well be real. If they fluoresce, the cards most certainly aren't. It's such an easy test.

Me I think Toledo Mud Hens players should be part of every Topps set.

:cool:

I think this was almost certainly a composite photo that was cut up. Arthur on top left and Butler on the top right. Both appear to have one rounded corner and both appear to have a small pin hole like this was tacked to a wall. Hartman was on the lower right and whoever that is on the bottom right (can’t tell because of the light) looks like may have been on the lower left.

Like you said, my attention immediately went to the tearing and how "White" the tears/rips were. I would think they would be much more discolored....but i dont know.

+1..
I am in this camp too...

Wiltse
 

I think L. Wiltse is Hooks Wiltse(T206) brother.

Looks like 1899.
 

Yep!