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Posted By: davidcycleback

Whether or not they're trading cards, they are worth a fair amount of money. A CDV of a known pro player in his uniform from this early is worth something whether or not it's a commercial/advertising piece. Further, an 1860s bunch of player CDVs from the same team is rare. I can't think of another example, unless it's some Ivy League team. Also, I didn't say they weren't sold to the pubic. I don't know how they were distributed, which means there's some speculation involved trading card-wise. My rule is that you have to know, or at least be 90 percent certain, that the card was a commercial/advertising item before I call it a trading card. Speculation doesn't prove it for me, as you can speculate about any cabinet card, CDV or photo. Though I'll always listen to others' opinions and evidence and have changed my opinion. There may be info about these CDVs that would convince me they are trading cards. Otherwise, they're still rare and valuable.

I'm a photo collector and, to me, a photo doesn't have to be a trading card to be collectible. A CDV doesn't look any different once REA calls it a trading card. Whether or not a CDV or cabinet card qualifies as a trading card is an issue for trading card collectors. I know that trading card collectors focus' is on trading cards, so appreciate their concern with the issue. If you collect game used baseballs, it's not a mere technicality whether or not that baseball was used in a game. 'Game used' is what you collect.