1927 Middy Bread

[terjung]

With the prevalent reprints of the 1927 Middy Bread set around, I'm interested in knowing definitive ways of telling the originals from the reprints that have been cut from the black backgrounds and artificially aged.

Searching the archives, I've read that the "Printed in U.S.A." text on the lower left corner is supposed to be crisp on the originals, but beyond that, I don't have a bunch to go on.

I want to purchase a George Sisler from this set for my collection, but want to learn more about them before doing so. Thanks in advance!

[h2oya311]

Good luck with your search Brian.

I've been on the lookout for a Chick Hafey for years. I, too, am nervous about aged reprints. I believe the dimensions should be 2.25"x4" on the originals. If I recall correctly, the reprints are usually smaller.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I think you will be able to tell the fake from real easily enough, I wouldn't worry about that too much. You're both experienced enough vintage card collectors. Finding a Hafey is another story. Looked for over 10 years and never found one individually for sale or auction.

[terjung]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I think you will be able to tell the fake from real easily enough, I wouldn't worry about that too much. You're both experienced enough vintage card collectors. Finding a Hafey is another story. Looked for over 10 years and never found one individually for sale or auction.

I appreciate the compliment. It isn't so much the "in person" sales that concern me. It is more like the cards shown in this link. Had I been in the market for the Sisler Middy at that time, I may have taken a stab.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item...ds-with-sisler

I didn't realize the reprints were a different size. That is very helpful. Any other tips? I'm wondering how consistent the cuts were on the originals. Anybody have any insight on that?

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by terjung

I appreciate the compliment. It isn't so much the "in person" sales that concern me. It is more like the cards shown in this link. Had I been in the market for the Sisler Middy at that time, I may have taken a stab.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item...ds-with-sisler

I didn't realize the reprints were a different size. That is very helpful. Any other tips? I'm wondering how consistent the cuts were on the originals. Anybody have any insight on that?

Those look pretty legit. Looks like you weren't the only one to find that lot on liveauctioneers.

I've had so many bad experiences on that site that I hardly ever check anything on that website any more. A few years ago there was a little known auction house that auctioned off several T206 Uzits without identifying them in the item description or title. I wasn't the only to find them though, so I missed out on any deals.

For those who are interested, never, I repeat NEVER, buy from Pioneer Auction Gallery (also on Liveauctioneers). They once pictured a T206 in a PSA 8 holder and just said "t206" in the auction description. I paid over $600 for the card (still thinking I was getting a deal) and was sent a common worth about $8. What a hassle to get a refund! And the cost to ship the card back, etc. Ugh! Never again. I also got a '79 OPC Gretzky reprint (oops) from a different auction house in a different liveauctioneers experience.

Anyway, again, the ones you showed in the link look good to me, but I am always concerned when anything is sold via liveauctioneers.

[terjung]

The problem is that they weren't legit. If I read the archives correctly, they fooled a very knowledgable veteran collector here. Apparently, they were the reprints that were cut out, had a backing applied to them, and had been soaked in coffee. I'll post the link if I can find it again.

Anyway, it is this kind of thing that I'm trying to avoid.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I believe the scale is very similar but not identical to the 1926 Kut-Outs Yankees/Giants. Another very tough issue to find but a bit easier than Middy Bread. As Derek knows, that's another set with a couple of HOF rookies in Combs & Lazzeri as well as a very early Gehrig.

[terjung]

The thing I'm trying to determine is if there is definitive proof that the images from the reprints were done at a different scale than the authentic Middy Bread cards. I have a set of the reprints (for fun and for scale reference). What I don't have is an authentic Middy Bread card with a scale in it. (I'd far rather something other than just the SGC holders being used as the scale.)

Why didn't you put a quarter in those scans, Leon?!?

[jefferyepayne]

Anyone have any pricing data on these cards? I've checked VCP and there are a couple of sales of commons from 2015 that went for $400 (ish). Card Ladder has lots more that went for $20-$30 but I suspect they are from the reprint set as that seems way way too low for cards from this set.

What do you all think HOFers would go for if they came up at auction these days?

jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Does anyone have any thoughts?

jeff

[bcbgcbrcb]

Jeff:

This is probably one of those issues where they are too rare for their own good. I’ve never heard of anyone looking to put this set together, just finding a single example for a type collection is nearly impossible. I think most HOF’ers would be in the $1-2K range. Of course, condition could play a big part in going higher or lower. Commons probably still a few hundred, maybe not a huge difference from several years ago.