m101 Herpolsheimer's distribution

[nolemmings]

From the Grand Rapids Herald, June 21, 1916 (showing Joe Tinker):

[scooter729]

Great ad! I’ve got about 35 of them - just wish a few more of the boys saved these to make them a bit more available now!

[timn1]

That's cool, Todd! maybe the first tangible evidence that proves what we have always believed about the 20-at-a-time distribution of many M101 backs. Great work!

[oldjudge]

Todd is the best!

[nolemmings]

Thanks guys.

Although there were other papers in Grand Rapids at the time that may show advertising for the cards, there was still only one store, so presumably one set a day for the last ten days of June was the deal. The date is puzzling, because Herpolsheimers is one of the three confirmed sets that starts with 20 low-number cards aligned with m101-5, and also because it has the rare Oscar Stanage portrait-to-waist pose that was later corrected. Thus I assumed that Herpolsheimers was among the earliest of the m101-4 sets, but a June 21 commencement date is the latest start known for m101-4 sets other than The Sporting News. This is another example of how the more I know, the less I understand. Incidentally, there were no further ads for the cards any of the ensuing nine days, plus I already had looked at many back to April and some into July. While the other papers may have carried different ads, those in the morning Herald were pretty extensive and appeared regularly, so there may not be a whole lot else out there advertising these cards. Maybe someone else will have better luck in searching.

[nolemmings]

In other m101 happenings, I see where the PSA pop report has added a new Babe Ruth card over the past month-- an Indianapolis Brewing example graded PSA 4. Some may have known this, but it was news to me.

[nolemmings]

shown here for scale. As you can see, this was just a portion of a full-page ad. Many of the department stores that issued m101 cards devoted very little space to advertising them. They packed a lot of sales items into their weekly or more frequent offerings, but gave short shrift to the baseball pictures. Makes for many a fruitless search, but gives a good idea of what consumerism was like a hundred years ago. At least Herpolsheimers gave this a somewhat prominent spot on the page--most ads are tucked in toward the bottom.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Very cool ad Todd. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Leon]

Thanks for sharing that.

Originally Posted by nolemmings

shown here for scale. As you can see, this was just a portion of a full-page ad. Many of the department stores that issued m101 cards devoted very little space to advertising them. They packed a lot of sales items into their weekly or more frequent offerings, but gave short shrift to the baseball pictures. Makes for many a fruitless search, but gives a good idea of what consumerism was like a hundred years ago. At least Herpolsheimers gave this a somewhat prominent spot on the page--most ads are tucked in toward the bottom.