Rare 1922 Thorpe RPPC Postcard emerges from Shadows

[clamendo]

I became aware of this postcard years ago from Dan Hitt while he was at Beckett. It pre-dates the Sport Kings rookie by 11 years. I've only seen an image of the other one.

It's postally used and the back has some historical significance. It confirms the Oorang Indians franchise story as the guy wrote about buying a dog (Airedale) from Jim Thorpe. Jim split his duties as player coach and managing the kennel.

It appears that Thorpe signed (its in fountain pen) the front and personalized a message on the back. Unfortunately, the "authority" wouldn't authenticate the signature. But I think since signatures vary you have to look at more than slant, pressure,etc. The post card came from central Ohio pick (near Larue, Ohio) from an 70+ year antique dealer who had 5700 positive Feedbacks. So, I believe the provenance of coming from a box of postcards that he found in Marion, Ohio. If you look at the back the M is a dead ringer for the capital M's on the 1920s Thorpe love letters that were auctioned years ago. Also, the 1950s book Fabulous Redman that has a signature that was authenticated has a similar phrase that's on the postcard. Steinbeck offered best wishes to a person on the inside cover and Thorpe countersigned it "Me too Jim Thorpe". The person who bought the dog sent it to a person in the hospital and Jim Thorpe put a personal message "Me Too Sick, J. T." The dog cost $2050 in today's dollars( an NFL franchise cost $100). I don't believe someone else would have signed it if they dropped $2k on a dog and they certainly wouldn't have written on the back. Anyway I'm extremely happy with the postcard. And one could argue it's his NFL rookie. The only thing that could top this is a Canton Bulldog Thorpe card/postcard. Well here is an image of the front and back.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...WRsNmJaT2ctbEU

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...TlGbzlMS0hDaWs


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[butcher354435]

Great postcard Carl.

Couldn't you date it to as early as 1921? Jan 12, 1922 is the postmark so surely it was printed in 1921.

Fantastic piece!!! Congrats!

[jefferyepayne]

Wow, that's fantastic, Carl! Great snag.

jeff

[clamendo]

Originally Posted by butcher354435

Great postcard Carl.



Couldn't you date it to as early as 1921? Jan 12, 1922 is the postmark so surely it was printed in 1921.



Fantastic piece!!! Congrats!

According to Wikipedia, Walter Lingo (owner) and Thorpe came up with the idea on a hunting trip in 1921 so that would make sense.


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[clamendo]

I think it's really cool that it ties the Oorang story to dogs and Thorpe


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[clamendo]

A few more pieces of info from my research ..

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...lNLNF9ZNmJBVTA

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...ElFQ0Y4SlVHM2M

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...2NYNXhFYzFia3c

The antique guy was from Urbana, Oh

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...kl5ZXNNaWpyMEU



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Great Thorpe postcard and Oorang Indians history. Congratulations on the pick-up!

"$100 for an NFL franchise...." WOW.

[Leon]

I used to own some Oorang/Thorpe stationery. Very interesting story about halftime in football.

[finalscore]

That is a fantastic, historical item Carl - congrats!!

[Exhibitman]

f'ing fantastic.

[pkaufman]

Nice work Carl ! Provenance is everything with these type items. Congrats !

[clamendo]

Originally Posted by Leon

I used to own some Oorang/Thorpe stationery. Very interesting story about halftime in football.

Your right - The first halftime shows. I found this on pro football HOF web site. I think Bear wrestling would be cool!!

"Entertainment, both prior to the games and during halftimes, was provided by the players and the Airedale dogs. There were shooting exhibitions with the dogs retrieving the targets. There were Indian dances and tomahawk and knife-throwing demonstrations. Long Time Sleep even wrestled a bear on occasion"


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[revmoran]

That's a wonderful pickup - I have one of the Fabulous Redmen book with the same inscription - I think Thorpe used it often.

[revmoran]

Also, we know Thorpe used RPPC later to promote the World Famous Indian Basketball team - here's a scan of one that I've also seen in newspaper articles from 1927. I don't have an original, but it does show that a RPPC was not unusual for Thorpe to use.

[robertcasterline]

Super find!

Does anyone know total number of cards with Thorpe exist?
Postcards and trading cards included.
Not photographs.

[clamendo]

As far as Postcards -
I am aware of two Oorang postcards (different poses), the 1908 & 1909 Carlisle Team photos (depicted on a different post), the c1940 Team Photo (showing the 1911 team) by Cline.
These are the only Football ones I am aware of.

Others exist as an Olympian, Street Clothes, Indian Headress, and the Basketball one

I'll let others chime in for cards



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[Exhibitman]

[clamendo]

Very Nice Adam !


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[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by clamendo

As far as Postcards -
I am aware of two Oorang postcards (different poses), the 1908 & 1909 Carlisle Team photos (depicted on a different post), the c1940 Team Photo (showing the 1911 team) by Cline.
These are the only Football ones I am aware of.

Others exist as an Olympian, Street Clothes, Indian Headress, and the Basketball one

I'll let others chime in for cards



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Also a RPPC of his wedding party ...



jeff

[clamendo]

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[clamendo]

Upper right ... also Pop Warner two rows down as a bonus !


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[jefferyepayne]

Unfortunately, I don't believe there are any football cards of Jim Thorpe produced during his playing days. I always wondered why Spalding or Star Player Candy didn't include him in their set. I know he was well passed his prime by the mid/late 1920s but he was still a huge draw.

There's some vintage cards from after he stopped playing:

1933 Sport Kings
1937 Kellogg's Pep Stamp
1939 Gridiron Greats Ink blotter
1950 Parein Biscuits
1955 Topps All-Americans

jeff

[clamendo]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

Unfortunately, I don't believe there are any football cards of Jim Thorpe produced during his playing days. I always wondered why Spalding or Star Player Candy didn't include him in their set. I know he was well passed his prime by the mid/late 1920s but he was still a huge draw.

There's some vintage cards from after he stopped playing:

1933 Sport Kings
1937 Kellogg's Pep Stamp
1939 Gridiron Greats Ink blotter
1950 Parein Biscuits
1955 Topps All-Americans

jeff

Jeff-
I think the issue was that football was still in its infancy and until the famous Pottsville Maroons victory vs Rockne's college football all-stars it wasn't really on the map. Therefore the lack of professional football card sets and even single player postcards. I still think someday something will show up on eBay.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by clamendo

Jeff-
I think the issue was that football was still in its infancy and until the famous Pottsville Maroons victory vs Rockne's college football all-stars it wasn't really on the map. Therefore the lack of professional football card sets and even single player postcards. I still think someday something will show up on eBay.

No doubt, Carl. But I think if you're are Spalding or Dockman and you want people to buy your cards, you gotta include Thorpe! Grange, Friedman, Nevers, Driscoll, Sternaman, etc. are all in at least one of these sets.

jeff

[clamendo]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

No doubt, Carl. But I think if you're are Spalding or Dockman and you want people to buy your cards, you gotta include Thorpe! Grange, Friedman, Nevers, Driscoll, Sternaman, etc. are all in at least one of these sets.



jeff

Good point. I've seen the 1925 Spaulding promo sheet and he wasn't on there?

Another interest fact is besides the 1st halftime shows ... the Oorang's started the 1st training camp. It seems many attributed Thorpe's stamina to hunting. I had a discussion with my Daughter's boyfriend. There are still people today that hunt with dogs in the mountains and tough terrain, but they have a RF/GPS tag in today's world. In order for Thorpe to keep up with those Airedale's he had to be extremely fast and agile. Reminds me of Rocky Balboa trying to catch those Chickens as part of training. An Airedale is #9 out of the top 20 fastest dog breeds.


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