1949 Bowman - variation?

[scooter729]

Hey there,

I'm posting this for a friend who asked me, and I'm not too familiar with the set, so I'm hoping someone may be able to help.

Check the image on the first '49 Bowman Sam Zoldak NNOF (borrowed image off ebay). This is the version that is known for this card, with a distinctive light green background.



Now check the second image - this is his card. The background appears to be gray and not green. The rest of the image (jersey, hat, etc.) on the gray background appear to line up color-wise with the green background, so it's not just as if the color was light all-around on the card.



Is this a known variation? Printing error?

Any thoughts are appreciated - thanks!
Scott

[canjond]

I'm sure Ted Z or someone else will chime in soon. However, to me, that does not look like a variation per se. Rather, the ink may have been running low during the printing which caused the "color freak."

[Griffins]

Ted's vcbc article on the '49 set details the gray background variations.

[scooter729]

Thanks Anthony - I'll see if I can find a copy of that article then!

[Drew6]

Anthony, did you ever find the article on the grey back 1949's? I have been wondering about the back differences for awhile. I would love to read more about it. Great thread and great board.

Drew

[tedzan]

Just wandered over here and saw this....one of my favorite subjects. I'm showing here a small sample
of the various color printing errors that can be found in the early Bowman sportscards sets.
The 1949 Zoldak you depicted is one of 17 cards in the 3rd series that can be found missing its pastel
background color. I refer to these color errors a SLATES. Shown below is my 3rd series uncut sheet
depicting these SLATE cards.

I wrote an article about all the possible SLATE cards that can be found in the 49B set (1997 issue of
VCBC). Most of the SLATE cards are found in the tough Hi# series (#145-240).

I'll welcome any and all questions you can throw at me regarding these cards.









TED Z

[slantycouch]

As usual, great info Ted. Thanks for sharing!

[scooter729]

Thanks Ted, great info!

Couple of questions to follow up...

How scarce are these slate background cards as compared to the regular cards?

Is there much of a premium for these variations?

Thanks!
Scott

[tedzan]

SCOOTER

The 17 low # cards shown on my 3rd Series sheet that are SLATE's are seen occasionally.
These cards usually go for 2-4 times the value of their regular card. But, sometimes you
can get them for no added premium because the seller does not know of them.

The Hi# SLATE cards are seldom seen and can have a much higher premium.


TED Z

[scooter729]

Thanks Ted; much appreciated....

Scott