Posted By:
scott brockelmanwell, a little research has turned up a joseph royer in lancaster, PA before the turn of the century who was a confectioner. seems he was a very prominent candy maker who taught one milton hershey the business, of course hershey became a household name to this day.
i believe the cards are contemporary ad pieces made from real old judges by a photographic image process, this makes them somewhat more valuable as early victorian baseball trade cards, especially with the connection of royer. i doubt anyone couls have concocted such a fraud in this day and age and just happened to pull royer out of the air.
but still not N172's
for all you chocolate lovers, royer also invented the large chocolate hollow easter rabbits. yet another good reason for slabbing your cards if handling them while eating the large chocolate rabbit, he ain't M&M's and WILL melt in your hands.
scott