Illustrated Current News broadsides

[Archive]

Posted By: Paul

I recently purchased three "Illustrated Current News" 12" x 17" broadsides from the 1930s on ebay. Does anyone know anything about these? Mine are in extraordinary condition. Do any of you know if reprints of these exist? Thanks.

Paul

[Archive]

Posted By: hankron

I'm assuming you are wondering if they are reprints because of high grade. I'm not familiar with the publication, original or reprint. If the paper is coated paper-- the type of paper used in many modern and older magazines, as opposed to newspaper stock-- it can last well if stored well. If old publications were stored over the years in stacks, like in the back of a library, they can remain in high grade.

If it's on newspaper stock, an original would likely to be in lower grade. The woodpulp used in 20th century newspaper stock naturally degrades-- yellowing, becoming brittle .... As a side note, woodpulp in newspaper stock was introduced about 1850. This means that, counterinuitively, an 1820 newspaper will often be found in better condition than a 1960 newspaper.

Ultimatly, authentication/dating of these types of publications is done by examination of the printing. This is a simple process using a handheld microscope.

[Archive]

Posted By: hankron

I forgot to mention that publications as large as your are less likely to be reprinted. Simply put, it's a pain in the butt to rerprint publications that size.

[Archive]

Posted By: scgaynor

They are probably all original (1930s-1940s). They are not worth enough to reprint. Thousands of them were "found" at one time.

Although the topics are often of historical significance, there is little collector interest, so they don't sell for much money. For example, a typical poster picturing Babe Ruth is worth about $20-50.

Scott

[Archive]

Posted By: Paul

Thank you both. They are on glossy paper. I have seen a few of them sell for high prices recently, in one of Henry Yee's auctions. But they generally do seem to sell for less.

I do think these are very underpriced. One of the ones I purchased is the famous shot of all living HOFers (except Cobb) at the 1939 HOF induction ceremony, and another is Lou Gehrig with Joe McCarthy when Gehrig announced he would no longer be playing. I can't be the only one that likes this kind of stuff.

Paul

[Archive]

Posted By: Hankron

There are a number of interesting premiums, advertisments and publications that are good quality, scarce and inexpensive. The cause is that they are either obscure and esoteric (a potential bidder may never have heard of it or know if it's real) and/or it is not fashionable. For example, baseball cards are fashionable, while brouchures and paper premiums are not. Contrived but widely held sensibilities about what is worthwhile and what is not are a major reason for a type of memorabilia's high value. Whether we admit it or not, nearly all collectors, even advanced, have their finger to winds of current fashion.

“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.”
-- Oscar Wilde.

I collect some types of memorabilia that are inexpensive (pocket change) despite what I perceive as high quality. Alternatly, I curse that items are unappreceated, and thank my lucky stars that I can buy them for so cheap.

[Archive]

Posted By: Hankon

I long ago figured out that some memorabilia (and players) are overvalued and likely will always be overrated. Similularly, some memorabilia (and players) are undervalued and will always be undervalued. I'm sure that many bat collectors found it insane that Mickey Mantle's baseball card could be worth more than his game used baseball bat.

As my Mai'ma told me when I was little kid, "Life's not fair. Get used to it."

[Archive]

Posted By: MW

<< This means that, counterinuitively, an 1820 newspaper will often be found in better condition than a 1960 newspaper. >>


Not true. That is unless you've been smoking it.

[Archive]

Posted By: RobertS

I own a few of these that I purchased in the 1980s for a song. The paper is glossy -- definitely not newspaper stock, but not cardboard or postboard either.

Many that I've seen have fold marks but are otherwise in phenomenal shape and are almost definitely originals. The thing I've always found interesting is I've never seen them with corners ripped or torn off -- they've survived pretty well given how fragile they are.

Lastly -- prices have always been cheap (in the early 1980s you could buy them for as low as $10-$20 even from dealers who knew what they were.

Robert S.

[Archive]

Posted By: scgaynor

I think the reason that the one's that Henry sold for so much is because he probably descibed them as broadsides instead of posters. I didn't see the one that you purchased, however I have seen him list them as "broadsides" in the past.

Some people probably thought they were bidding on broadsides and were willing to pay more, when in reality they were bidding on these Current news posters.

If they were actual broadsides, they would be worth good money.

Scott

[doug.goodman]

Do I win the award for oldest thread dug from the archives?

I'm wondering if these have been cataloged?

Doug

[bcbgcbrcb]

I do not believe that they have ever been catalogued. Mike Mosier at Columbia City Collectibles might be one of the most knowledgable people on this issue, he has had many over the years.

[doug.goodman]

In my post, I almost made reference to Mike's website being the best list that I have seen.

[bythecshore]

Hi All,

I just thought you'd like to know that my company, The Marlin Company, publishes these ICNs (Illustrated Current News) and has continuously since 1913, in fact, we're now celebrating our 100th anniversary.

These pieces were originally sold in sets of 3 per week for 35 cents per week, delivered. Subscribers would post them in their retail store windows to attract people into their store.

Then in the 1940's, they were used to attract attention to safety posters within the Marlin Firearms company. That eventually led to a spin off of The Marlin Company which still publishes them today, mostly in digital format, for workplace communications purposes.

So there you go.

[slidekellyslide]

I have some of these laying around somewhere and they are in cardboard mailing tubes. Great items that I still think are very undervalued.

[gracecollector]

This is an old topic, but Illustrated Current News posters have caught my attention. I purchased a few for my Hack Wilson collection. As I researched them, it's amazing to me that they span a 70-year period (1915-1984), have hundreds of baseball subjects, and yet have never been cataloged.

I contacted the Marlin company, which produced them, and they do not have a checklist of all subjects issued. Over 11,000 ICN posters were created over the years. The person I spoke to said they do have albums of posters at their Connecticut headquarters, but no lists.

So I've started creating a checklist of those posters that have baseball subjects. So far the list has 176 entries from posters I've found on the web and through Columbia City Collectibles list. I've tried improving on that list by correcting errors and adding published dates and the titles of the posters. Any poster that has a title listed I have seen with my own eyes. The others are from Columbia City's list.

http://www.baseballcardstars.com/ill...ent%20news.pdf

If anyone has any information - either posters not on the list or information that is missing from list entries - I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me!

[paul]

I'm a Seaver collector and would love it if someone could post a picture of the Jan. 12, 1970 and Feb. 26, 1971 posters featuring Seaver. I've never even seen them. Thanks.

Paul

[gracecollector]

Originally Posted by paul

I'm a Seaver collector and would love it if someone could post a picture of the Jan. 12, 1970 and Feb. 26, 1971 posters featuring Seaver. I've never even seen them. Thanks.

Paul

The two posters you mention have Seaver in a "cameo" appearance, not as a feature. He's in group shots with other Orioles.





Both are for sale on ebay through seller cocicoco (Columbia City Collectibles)

[Darner]

This is the only one I have but it's not on your list, August 15, 1952, No. 6083, featuring Connie Mack and Bobby Shantz during Shantz' MVP season.

[paul]

Brad, thanks for posting those. I appreciate it.

[TUM301]

Was able to grab one of these Current News a couple years ago. It`s #2078 and dated 1/14/27. Has a real nice large courtroom shot with Black Sox participants Gandil and Risberg in the middle and Judge Landis off to the side. Good way to get some decent period material at lower end prices. Think I got this B Sox related item for about 90.00 or so. Think the exact same one is or has recently been up on ebay for anyone who`d like to take a look.

[Sleepless72]

Originally Posted by gracecollector

This is an old topic, but Illustrated Current News posters have caught my attention. I purchased a few for my Hack Wilson collection. As I researched them, it's amazing to me that they span a 70-year period (1915-1984), have hundreds of baseball subjects, and yet have never been cataloged.

I contacted the Marlin company, which produced them, and they do not have a checklist of all subjects issued. Over 11,000 ICN posters were created over the years. The person I spoke to said they do have albums of posters at their Connecticut headquarters, but no lists.

So I've started creating a checklist of those posters that have baseball subjects. So far the list has 176 entries from posters I've found on the web and through Columbia City Collectibles list. I've tried improving on that list by correcting errors and adding published dates and the titles of the posters. Any poster that has a title listed I have seen with my own eyes. The others are from Columbia City's list.

http://www.baseballcardstars.com/ill...ent%20news.pdf

If anyone has any information - either posters not on the list or information that is missing from list entries - I would greatly appreciate it if you contact me!

I have one on your list (though your information is incomplete) and one possibly not on your list:

#7461 - June 14, 1961 - "3 Young Ball Players Get Bonuses Totaling $425,000!" - Lew Krause/Wade Blasingame/Bob Bailey - Kansas City Athletics/Milwaukee Braves/Pittsburgh Pirates.

#8271 - August 29, 1966 - Manny Mota/Luke Appling/Ralph Houk/Umpires Crawford, Odom, Rapp, Rice, Salerno - "Baseball Fans Couldn't Believe Their Eyes!" - Pittsburgh Pirates/Kansas City Athletics/New York Yankees.

Thanks for all the hard work you've done on the checklist to date!

Chris