[Oldtix]

I've always liked these old news-service posters (issuers called them "broadsides") as display items, and they're very affordable. I've had literally thousands of them over the years; the vast majority deal with subjects other than sports. This seems like a good place to share some information and I hope others can add to it.

For a fee, subscribers (usually libraries and schools) would receive the posters by mail several times a week - often several at a time. Special display cases were available for use in public places. Over the years, I've seen photos showing them displayed at newsstands, dining counters, banks, tobacco shops and other places. The idea, of course, was to spark conversation and attract attention. The trick was to place advertising in the vicinity to cash in on that attention.

The best known issuer was ILLUSTRATED CURRENT NEWS, based in New Haven Connecticut. They were issued three times a week starting in 1913. They were mailed flat in a consistent 12 1/2" x 19" horizontal format until the 1950s. At that point, they were enlarged to a 16" x 19" size with an area across the bottom for generic advertising messages. These larger posters were shipped rolled in tubes. A 1959 circulation statement cited 5,318 paid subscriptions. ICNs were still being issued well into the 1970s. The non-sports posters are a great record of events, scientific advances, fashion trends, celebrities, space exploration, wars, politics, etc. Please note that there was a reprinting of about 25 of the high-appeal sports posters back in the 1980s...the 1939 HOF induction, etc...so tread carefully.

ELLIOTT NEWS SERVICE was issuing posters as far back as 1922. I sold one in the mailing tube at a 1990s National showing the dedication of the Ohio Stadium. If memory serves, that was about 14" x 18".

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS (THE WORLDS' NEWS IN PICTURES) was published daily from 1938 to at least 1940 by International Events, Inc. of Chicago. They are 11" wide and 17" tall and were shipped rolled in tubes.

DISPATCH PHOTO NEWS SERVICE was issuing similar posters during World War II, and I've seen similar posters from World War I. I believe these were 14" wide and 18" tall and were shipped rolled in tubes.

The same idea was executed for point-of-sale display in a 1930s series called "LAST MINUTE PHOTO" promoting "New York's Picture Newspaper - The News) comes to mind. As far as I know, it wasn't sold to third parties.

There were also posters featuring a "Believe It Or Not" panel cartoon knock-off called "DIDJA' KNOW?" issued by The Bertlee System of Chicago in the 1930s. They were based in the Hearst Building. I'm sure there were others.

Please add any corrections or additional information!