Are the 1917 Felix Mendelsohn photos considered proofs?

[milkit1]

I recently acquired these two Felix Mendelsohn photos from 1917. Though they are of subjects not included in the cardset Ive seen others that were. Does anyone know if these photos were specifically done for the purpose of making the card set?

Thanks

Mendelsohn Duffy Lewis.jpg

Mendelsohn Janvrin.jpg

[the-illini]

Hi Sean

I have three of the Mendelsohn photos that were used for a card - not sure how they were manufactured but they are really cool pieces. Here is one that was used for a card...

[milkit1]

Hi Chris

Thanks for sharing! My only assumption is that since these were made pretty quickly into cards that that was their purpose to begin with. I really like the Mendelsohn stamp on it

[drcy]

"Original art." I wouldn't call them proofs

[milkit1]

Originally Posted by drcy

"Original art." I wouldn't call them proofs

I'll take it!

[nolemmings]

I believe it quite likely that Mendelsohn took the photos or paid to have them taken in contemplation of producing the m101-6 set. His ad in September 1917 claimed the pics had never been published before and many are dated to that year.

As a publisher, it is possible he was also thinking about using the photos in a book or some other format, but given that he already had produced at least the m101-4/5 and E135ish sets in the preceding 18 months, he may have just intended to stick to "cards".

By the way, how do you know the pics are not of subjects from the m101-6 set? The top photo looks like Duffy Lewis to me, who is listed in some checklists for the set, although I do no recall seeing an m101-6 for him. Many collectors believe the checklist is incomplete, as more than the stated 100 have been confirmed.