L1 Leathers

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Posted By: Dylan

I've always thought these were fascinating pieces of baseball history due to their unique nature. All I really know about them is that they were issued as premiums under the Helmar cigarette brand, they share the same checklist as the silk set, and that the images are the same as the turkey reds. If anyone here has any to display or any further information on them please do share!

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

unfortunately.......do not belong to me........

Ad piece for T3, S81 and L1's


Nap Lajoie


Red Dooin


Ty Cobb


Rube Benton

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Posted By: Zach Rice

The gift slips, which can be seen in the above display, were the coupons used for obtaining the leathers, silks, and cabinet cards.

Baseball were not the only subjects available; famous generals, Indians, college mascots, Hamilton Girls, etc. were all available in all three formats.

I can't recall the exact numbers off the top of my head, but the more coupons or slips you turned in, the better the material you could get your selected image on. Something like 15 slips would allow you to get the image on a cardboard mount, 20 got your image on a silk, and something like 35 slips would allow you to get your requested image on leather.

Even more esoteric than the normal sized leathers were leathers that could be obtained by mailing in 245 (I think) coupons. These leathers are multiple times the size of a normal L1 and only a handful are known. Unfortunately baseball subjects are impossible in this format as only a small number of the available subjects mentioned above were available in this size. I've seen three Indian chiefs and one war general in this format.

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Posted By: mr. moses

I get a minute. There were many leathers produced for more than just the ATC issues - from the souvenir shops to other product giveaways - to personally made ones for fun or profit. I never saw one depicting a baseball player that WASN'T a tobacco issue that wasn't obviously folk art. Part of the problem is that they are very hard to identify. Just like the pillow tops they are ALWAYS attributed to being tobacco premiums when in fact MANY more aren't than are..... As for the giant leathers they are spectacular. I have seen a few. I've never seen one for baseball. Terry K. and Mr. Rotman probably have at least one. Interesting from a baseball perspective are the TEAM leathers with leather flaps the size of a pillow top. I owned a couple way back including Boston(?). They weren't tobacco premiums either. Transfer type photos if I remember right. They came on white and tobacco colored leathers (finished on one side I think). I will look up what I can and post a pic.. Just a couple/three O/T pieces and my reef tank ....

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Posted By: David Smith

I don't have any L1 Leathers of baseball players but I do have these two of Minnehaha and Sitting Bull. Unfortunately, a previous owner glued them onto a piece of cardboard. They are cracked at the corners/edges and I am scared to try and remove them for fear they will break.

David