Posted By:
David Smiththe hub bub is about whether these "proofs" are authentic or not. Some say they are and some say they are not.
Those who argue they are not say they have been around for about 10 years and that most major auction houses have looked at them and not accepted them. The argument goes that these "proofs" were made from original 1880's glass negatives of players but at a later time and NOT by Goodwin and Co.
So, the photographic images are authentic to the time period but the photos and the cabinet card backings were not made then. So, if this is correct, then these are fantasy cards and not proofs.
If this is true, then the auction company should either A) pull the cards from the auction or B) make 100% sure these are the real deal and if not, then at least give a disclaimer to the fact.
As far as the tin type goes, that is a totally different subject but related in that it, too, might have been reproduced at a later time using the old, original glass negatives.
I think that is what this is all about...