[Leon]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

I have long been intrigued with print lines on halftone printed cards. Take, for example, the 1916 M101-5 Babe Ruth, which sometimes but not others is seen with a light, seemingly perfectly horizontal light print line coming out from his left hip to the right border of the card. In addition, another similar line sometimes but not always appears at a level above his head to his left, from the right of the card to approximately its center. Some examples show the print line from the hip, but not the higher one. On the latter, the print line can be seen at varying levels in relation to but always near the left hip.

Are these print lines produced by something on the plate at the time of printing, such as a string, thread or hair, which is later absent in the process of subsequent printings? Or is there a defect in the plate, requiring the replacement of it?

For those of you who have some knowledge or expertise in halftone printing and variations such as these, please know that your response is greatly appreciated.

Highest regards always,

Larry

Not sure of the answer but Steve's seems plausible. I would like to know definitively too. They are on quite a few Ruth's...