2 Different N172 Ansons in street clothes?

[E93]

I was just looking through scans of some of my N172s and in comparing the two N172 Ansons, I noticed different script on his jacket. It is most noticeable on the "A" of Anson and the "i" and "o" in Chicago's. I'd be curious to know people's thoughts on this and if anybody else has noticed or acknowledged it before. Also, below, one says "Cigarette Factory" and one says "Cigarettes". Do folks think this is significant?
Thanks,
JimB

[oldjudge]

The one on the left is an 1889 card; the one on the right an 1888 card. The name was written in on the glass plate negative. The name may have worn down and had to be rewritten or there may have been several copies of the negative. I have seen at least three or four different name styles. In my opinion it is nothing significant.

[E93]

Found this "Cigarette Factory"example searching Goodwin Auctions. Interestingly it also has a thinner factory cut. And this one from REA with wider border and "Cigarette" variety.

REA example has no name etched on it, but rather typeset below/
JimB

[E93]

Thanks Jay. What about the PSA 8 with no etched name at all?
JimB

[Matthew H]

Interesting there's no copyright line on the 1888 fb with no name etched... Did that happen often?

[barrysloate]

The 1889 also has a lighter photo, not uncommon for cards issued in that year. Given that these names were hand etched onto the negative, you would expect all these minor variations.

[oldjudge]

Jim-A few different name styles as shown on cabinets. They were made from the same negatives as the N172s so theoretically any of these styles could show up on the small cards:

[oldjudge]

Jim-I can also offer a theory as to why one of the 1888 cards has the name written in and why the other does not. N173s were issued in 1888 after the N172s had already started to be issued. The name was written across Anson's chest to identify him on N173s. The one without the writing may have been an early 1888 issue and the other a later 1888 issue. This would also say that Anson in Uniform was an early 1888 issue.

[E93]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Jim-I can also offer a theory as to why one of the 1888 cards has the name written in and why the other does not. N173s were issued in 1888 after the N172s had already started to be issued. The name was written across Anson's chest to identify him on N173s. The one without the writing may have been an early 1888 issue and the other a later 1888 issue. This would also say that Anson in Uniform was an early 1888 issue.

Interesting. That makes sense.
JimB

[E93]

Jay,
Do you think "Cigarettes" vs. "Cigarette Factory" is a significant variation or are these sorts of differences endless in the N172 set?
JimB

[oldjudge]

Jim-as we point out in the book, cigarettes is 1888 and cigarette factory is 1889 or 1890. This is how you tell the years apart so in that respect it is significant.