I love that scrapbook paper! I've got to think it transfered over time, or because of the glue used.
To cover a few points raised.
Leon- the Meusel with the complete transfer of the front is probably a transfer. For me a tough call being black ink, but it's a strong enough transfer I'd say yes.
I didn't mean to say that all black transfers happened after production, just that I've become less enthused by them after having a black stamp printed in the 1880's leave a pretty solid transfer on another in the mail between England and here.
Mrvster - I don't quite get what you're calling me out on.
Anyway, any printing error/variation/anomaly absolutely should be taken card by card. And that examinaton should be done with an understanding of the printing process and materials used. And unless you specialize that means understanding multiple processes. Leons Meusel was probably not lithographed. I'd have to see it or another from the same set to be sure, but one of the typography processes would be a safe bet. The black mark on the left is the initial clue.
The Chance is very impressive, and obviously all factory. It's a wonderful example of a card from a sheet used to make the initial adjustments to the press.
For each color pass the plate for that color needs to be put into place, and a few sheets run to adjust the alignment of the plate and registration with other colors or other sides and to make sure the ink and water are flowing evenly. As you can see from the Chance and Leons multi back, they'll use up just about any sheet of the right size and weight paper. So the Chance is most likely among the first 5-10 cycle backs printed. And I could probably make a good argument for it being from the first sheet.
I've collected printing errors in general since roughly 1980, most of the ones I have are more modern as I've always been on a tight budget. I've found examples of nearly all the problems that can happen in production. There's a few I haven't been able to buy (1972 topps printed with the back on the front and front on the back of the cardboard) And a few that I haven't seen an example of. And I'm always learning new things and adjusting my thoughts on some others.
And I'll show you a real puzzler. I think the price is a bit high, but this Cobb has a red transfer from something. The odd thing is I've looked through the gallery and can't find a T206 that matches the red shadow. Scrap? Transfer from some other set? transfer from an unlisted card?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I'll start the experiments on the beater. First up, just plain pressure. I can get to probably a couple tons in the home shop, maybe a touch more. For much more than that I'd have to call in a favor from one oft he shops I know. After that Alcohol, then solvents.
Steve B