Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Brian McQueen</b><p>I went through my Zeenut collection earlier today and found a few cards that appear to have overprint backs on them that I thought I'd share. I know the two on the bottom have the Collins/McCarthy back stamp which adds to their uniqueness, but I was curious if the top two cards have overprints from their sponsers as well, or are these simply stamps from a random collector that would decrease the card's conditon rather than add to it's significance?<br /><br />Another question, how many overprints have been found for this issue? <br /><br />Interested in hearing any thoughts you guys may have. Thanks in advance,<br /><br />Brian<br />redmaccie@hotmail.com<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1154737356.JPG">

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>I sure don't know about this Brian. But the pointing finger stamp was everywhere through the 40s. Then its use died out. The other one though is very interesting. It actually looks like something affixed to the card. Is it a stamped image? Can you make it bigger?

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Adam J. Baxter</b><p>When you consider the fact that Zeenuts were distributed by the Collins-McCarthy<br />company, it makes the "JJ Collins" stamp kind of stand out from the rest of the crowd. Perhaps JJ Collins was a relative or descendant of the Collins clan?

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Mark Macrae</b><p>Adam..... The facsimile signature "J J Collins" which is commonly found on the backs of 1911 Zeenuts represents Joseph J. Collins who was a partner in the candy company. During the Teens, he represented himself as secretary & treasurer of Collins-McCarthy Candy. The facsimile bears a remarkable resemblance to Collins' actual signature (At least the examples that I own). The other stamps are examples of "personalization" which have been done to paper artifacts over the last century, some contemporary to their release, others in more modern times for a variety of reasons.

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Brian McQueen</b><p>I found another Collins-McCarthy overprint. This one is from Leon's site and is obviously a lot more detailed than the two I have. On mine, you can see traces of the captions above and below the signature but they don't show up in the scans. SGC even notates the overprint on their slab. I'll try to get larger scans of the other two posted later on. Not the first time I've seen that giant hand used on a card either....<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1154834444.JPG">

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Adam J. Baxter</b><p>Mark, If I'm reading your post correctly, then that would make the Joseph J. Collins stamp a legit overprint/variation and not just a collector personalization? Has anyone encountered his stamp on any other Collins-McCarthy issues besides Zeenuts?

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>Adam, the Collins stamp can very well be viewed as a "legitimate" stamp. It may very well have been another way of "cancelling" cards that had been redeemed (as 1911's had no coupon.) Here is another axample. <br />-Rhett<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/rhettmatthew_37/11zeekaneback.JPG">

Interesting 1911 Zeenut Overprints....
 

Posted By: <b>Steve M.</b><p>Just back from SGC or I would have posted it earlier.Stamped on the reverse of a 1911 Wares. Anyone have anything like this or info on the S. WHITEMAN Fine Candies company of San Francisco?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1155764020.JPG">