Let's Talk Old Judge
 

Posted By: <b>Seth B.</b><p>I just bought my first Old Judge, a Greenwood pitching. I know nothing about this set except that it's huge, and I'd love to hear more from you knowledgeable guys on the board. Especially since this is such a historically important set, do we know anything about why it got started or who was in charge of taking all these photos?<br />Also, my card appears as if it was printed with a smudge (from the "IN" of goodwin up into the picture) that seems to have been on the original plate. Is this OK?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1148663127.JPG">

Let's Talk Old Judge
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>Lew Lipset's 19th Century Cards representing Vol. 1 of his encyclopedia contains a wealth of information on OJs and other early issues. This publication is often available on ebay, sometimes coupled with his later volumes covering early candy & gum issues and tobacco cards.<br /><br />Regarding your question about the smudge: everything is ok with Old Judges. However, I am not sure that the imperfection is attributable to a manufacturing defect. <br /><br />We are all learning about this set. An interesting article written by two contributors to this forum was recently published in Old Cardboard. You may be able to pick up back issues from the publisher at a nominal cost - but I am not sure about that either.<br /><br />Welcome to this area of the hobby. There are some strange and interesting collections here. A lot of sharing of information and a lot of secrecy regarding what to some is considered private, hard earned information.

Let's Talk Old Judge
 

Posted By: <b>Seth B.</b><p>Thanks, Gilbert, I'll track down those references. These are great cards.

Let's Talk Old Judge
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>These are baseball cards that could have been owned and collected by guys such as Ward, Anson, Comiskey, Buffalo Bill, etc.<br /><br />Or who knows? Some kids could have collected them too. Honus Wagner was about 13 then.

Let's Talk Old Judge
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Gilbert, that's an interesting aspect that I'd never thought of before....Imagine two guys in a bar in Deadwood trading baseball stories after pulling an OJ card out of a pack of cigarettes.