[brianp-beme]

First a little background information. These cards, which were issued in strips of 10, and classified as a group as W516, are actually divided into 5 different sets, based upon card numbers, hand/typeset lettering, and normal/reversed images. They are designated in this fashion as follows:

W516-1-1 Hand lettering, normal image

W516-1-2 Hand lettering, reversed image, numbering same as W516-1-1

W516-2-1 Typeset, reversed image, numbering reversed from W516-1 sets above in groups of 10 (1-10, 11-20, 21-30). For example #1 Babe Ruth in the W516-1-1 and W516-1-2 sets is #10, #2 Heinie Groh is #9, #13 Larry Doyle is #18, #24 Christy Mathewson is #27, etc.

W516-2-2 Hand lettering, reverse image, numbering same as W516-2-1

W516-2-3 Typeset, normal image, numbering same as W516-1-1


And now to the revelation. Typically the copyright for all these sets (in guide books, lot listings, etc.) has been identified as 'IFS', which stands for International Feature Services. On rare occasions I have seen 'IFC' (not positive what C stands for...Company? Corporation?) mentioned. Indeed I have noticed throughout the years that some W516 cards could be found with an 'IFC' copyright instead. What I just figured out, after years of scientific research and countless gobs of funds thrown into this intellectual pursuit, is that in all 5 sets it appears that cards numbered 1 through 10 have the 'IFC' copyright, while cards numbering 11 through 30 have the 'IFS' copyright.

I am not sure what the meaning of all of this is, just thought I had to share this breakthrough in W516 copyright info. Let us know if you have any information that adds to what I have outlined, or even if it blows up my whole IFS/IFC conspiracy theory. Please use this information wisely, and ideally for good and not evil purposes.

Brian (a couple of example W516-1-1 cards showing both the IFC (note that it is card #10) and IFS (card #13) copyrights are included for visual reference to help enlighten folks on what the heck I have been detailing above.