[Rhotchkiss]

Mike, I sent you a message re some of your Southern League Old Mills

I have been staring at the Westlake and King because from the scans, the backs look like they could brown. However, scans can be deceiving and lightened old mills can often look brown via scan; they are best seen in person and, at least, need to be placed side by side with a regular SL OM back. Nevertheless, I think neither the Westlake nor King are brown old mills and here is why: First, they are both unconfirmed combos. I am not saying the combo can’t exist - I acquired a previously unconfirmed Violat Brown old mill - but it does make it less likely. Second, brown old mills are scrap; they are hand cut and were not placed in cigarette packs. Staring at the front and backs of both cards, neither appears hand cut. But more importantly, how would this owner, who we think assembled these many years ago and put them away, would have gotten his/her hands on a scrap card? Third, and most determinative (as Sonny points out below), neither come with a brown hindu back.

Regardless of whether any of these cards are brown old mills, it is an amazing find and really cool that things like this still exist. Congrats!