Posted By:
JasonJay, of course you are right and no one will ever know for sure the CDV's exact date. If you go by percentages and circumstantial evidence though, the card is more likely to be 1866 than 1870.
A) BBBE Had it's grand opening in 1866 (card released to publicise opening?).
B) The C&I Print was issued in 1866. Why would they publicise the print 4 years later?
C) The print consists of an actual championship game played in 1865 between the Atlantics of Brooklyn and the Mutuals of New York. This game was big news at the time (a current affair). People would not have any interest in the game 4 years later so once again why use it to publicise your product?
D) It has all characteristics of a mid 1860's card in style.
I know that this is not an exact science and I will never be able to prove it but do you not agree that it is more likely to be 1866 than 1870 given circumstantial evidence?
Thanks - Jason