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Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb
You’re right, Kevin. I wasn’t looking at the NCP when I posted that so wasn’t aware that the date was printed on it. Memory isn’t as good as it used to be.  |
Nevertheless there are good reasons to think the NCP predates the Sporting News. Many of the NCP players were older stars left off the Sporting News issues (Anson and Ewing and Hoy, for example), with dates in 1898 on many of them. And some of the differences make it even more clear, such as RJ Wallace’s two cards, with different teams and dates. That said, it seems like the NCP was completed as 1899 rolled on, perhaps, since it contains some unique 1898 issues but also several 1899 cards that look identical in picture and wording to the Sporting News issues of the same players. It’s possible the Wagners were closely or simultaneously issued, but it seems extremely unlikely the Sporting News was issued first. Kevin may have more info.