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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>Has anyone seen this variation before???<br /><br />I just picked this up from a board member.<br /><br /><br />It is a 1933 R309-1 Babe Ruth...... we've all see them, but this one is different in at least 5 ways.<br /><br />1. It has a green border all the way around making it 1/4" wider and taller than the normal version.<br /><br />2. It has a green name plaque instead of the normal gold colored plaque.<br /><br />3. There is a holdpunch in top border for hanging. The hole is smaller than a normal size hole punch and cleanly cut through the thick cardstock (looks machine made).<br /><br />4. The easel on back is a totally different design. It folds to the right not the left and is square at top while the normal version has a rounded top. Diecut in center of easel is also different.<br /><br />5. The photo quality is superior to that of the normal version.<br /><br /><br /><br />I believe this is a test production piece or maybe one of the very first ones made. It matches the Preproduction printers proof (pictured below) exactly, even down to the small brownish spot in "Babe" in the name plaque.<br /><br /><img src=http://centuryoldcards.com/images/r340ruth.jpg><img src=http://centuryoldcards.com/images/r309ruthgold.jpg><br />"Green" variation.........................normal "Gold" issue<br /><br />Preproduction printers proof (below)<br /><img src=http://centuryoldcards.com/images/r340ruthproof.jpg><br /><br />Link to REA auction of Proof<br /><a href="http://robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2005/290.html" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2005/290.html</a><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>BTW the catalogs need to fix the date on these.... they are from 1933 not 1934.<br /><br /><img src=http://centuryoldcards.com/images/r309counterdisplay.jpg>

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Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>I have not seen that before. Very nice pickup.

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Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>frank - the photo quality on the one you just picked up (from me <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>) almost looks like it was enhanced or painted over somehow when you see it up close. If it helps it came from the last Mastro auction, but they don't specify it as being anything other then a R309-1.

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>Thanks Matt, I saw that if came from Mastros, I had fun researching it and ran into that info on internet.

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Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Are you certain the one you are comparing it with is authentic? Apparently, reprints of the issue abound.

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>Yes both are authentic.<br />The reprints are on a thiner card stock and are obvious (bad photo quality) when you have them in person. Some of the reprints dont even have an easel on back as well. Most if not all are the Larry Fritsch reprints seen on eBay and in his online store. <br /><br />Ive owned about 10-15 of the R309-1 Ruths over the last 25 years. I only have the 2 pictured right now. It is one of my favorite Ruths.

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Posted By: <b>Paul</b><p>I wonder if the team cards were issued later than the Ruth. There's not a whole lot of time between the end of the World Series (for the World Champions card) and the November 1st deadline on that wrapper. In fact, there's just not enough time at all to prepare the cards and send out the advertising.

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>Your right, <br /><br />I read somewhere they were issued at different times. I believe it (ordering) had something to do with numbers in the corners of the Goudey wrapper. I'll see if I can find the info.<br /><br /><br />here it is. I'll cut it from the page.<br /><br /> By mailing 50 Big League baseball wrappers, the Goudey Company would award the sender a choice of one of four R-309-1 cards. The wrapper had a number one through four on each corner. By cutting off three corners and leaving one corner with a designated number is how the card to be sent was selected.<br /><br />The number one card featured Ruth, card two featured the 1933 N.L. All Star Team, card three was the 1933 A.L. All Star Team and card four was the 1933 Giants World Champion Team card. These premium cards were significant as 1933 was the first major league All Star game and Babe Ruth was the first player to hit a home run in an All Star game. The premiums were produced after each event depicted was played and they were available after the July 6th All Star Game through November 1, 1933. Sending in twenty wrappers in 1934 earned a Knot Hole League membership card, (Lou Gehrig, President) a badge, a premium catalog, and a book illustrating items such as gloves, baseballs and suits in exchange for wrappers.<br /><br />Full article<br /><a href="http://www.psacard.com/articles/article3886.chtml" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.psacard.com/articles/article3886.chtml</a><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p><img src="http://www.naxcom.com/images/ordscans/2882113.jpg"><br />Edited to add a picture of the 1933 Sport Kings wrapper. It shows 8 different premiums. I now believe this card above is a R340 Ruth and part of this premium givaway. I dont think they issued them as planed since they are so rare and unknown.<br /><img src=http://centuryoldcards.com/images/sportkingswrapper.jpg>

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Posted By: <b>fkw</b><p>Looks like the NY Giants Team was obviously the last one issued...maybe into 1934..... as its not even listed on this wrapper.

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Posted By: <b>PaulPaulPaul</b><p>Very interesting. I don't think the November 1st expiration date could apply to the Giants team, since they probably didn't win the World Series until mid October.

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Posted By: <b>Hal</b><p>This looks like it could be the possible R340 (Sport Kings premium) Ruth referenced on page 19 of Gerald Glasser's article in the February, 1999 issue of VCBC (#18). According to the article, the only known R340 is a Weissmuller, but there is reason to believe a Ruth may also exist. According to the article, the Sport Kings wrappers describe the R340 premiums as having a "decorative colorful border", and the Ruth, if it exists, is said to be the same as the R309-1 but "a little different", both of which are the case here. Very interesting indeed - possibly one of a kind!

i may have a ruth and tilden from the spots kings R340 premiums

the two i found recently

I have also seen a Jack Dempsey premium

ta da!!!! there it is!!

Ask and ye shall receive! Cool cards etc...
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