Hi all! I found this card at an antique store in Suffern, NY last weekend and didn't recognize the image so I bought it with low expectations. I posted it on a vintage card collectors Facebook group and to my surprise, nobody else had seen the image before either, let alone the card. PSA’s research department couldn’t find it and gave up searching pretty quick, and I’m still waiting to hear back from SGC so I figured I’d try here too. Here is a link to a google drive photo with images of the card.
https://drive.google.com/drive/mobil...=7&direction=d
The card is approximately 3.5x6.75” and printed on a thick cardboard stock. The image appears to be affixed to the stock rather than printed on it, and the printing pattern under a loupe shows vertical squiggly lines. Under a certain light, a spiderwebby shine pattern appears on the upper half of the picture, and no light shines through the card.
The Facebook group pointed out the black arm band in the photo, which was most likely worn to honor the passing of Ray Chapman at the end of the 1920 season. As for the city screen scene, my own research led me to his 1920 movie “Headin Home” that was shot in Haverstraw, NY (25 minutes away from Suffern) during August of 1920, the month that Ray Chapman died.
https://haverstrawlife.com/2008/03/2...be-comes-home/
My theory is that this card is either a photo taken by someone on the street during the filming sessions for the movie (shot was not in the film), or it was a promotional card for the movie. I know there have been some such cards found, but they are a lot smaller than this one and feature different images. However, this site suggests that “other premium items from the movie exist, including some larger photos of Ruth to help promote the film.”
https://prewarcards.com/2016/09/10/1...and-checklist/
Could this be one of those items? I would greatly appreciate any input and/or theories! Thanks!