Postcard question

[tiger8mush]

While I don't know a lot about postcards, I like to pick up an old Shibe Park postcard every now and then. While looking thru some listings on the 'bay, I noticed these two postcards have the same fronts but different backs. Is this common? Are they both legit? Is one more rare than the other? Thanks!
Rob



http://www.ebay.com/itm/1913-EXTERIO...item3cd118d73e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage1910-...item3a80a6fa03

[Jaybird]

While I don't know the answer as to which one is more rare, I can say with a degree of certainty that they are both legit. Also, it is not uncommon to see the same postcard distributed by different manufacturers. In some cases they were licensing the same artwork. In other cases, a distribution company had two different arms and distributed the same card through both. I have two cards where the front image is the same but a German company stamp is on the back and another copy with an American company. I researched the companies and found out that the German company owned the American one.

Sorry for the ramble.

[slidekellyslide]

I collect postcards of Lincoln, Nebraska and have for years...I can tell you that it is not uncommon at all for postcards to have different reverses..I have some postcards with the same front that have up to 5 different backs.....sometimes it's a result of the same manufacturer printing them in different years, and sometimes it's a different manufacturer who bought the rights to the artwork/photo or bought out a printing company.

And sometimes it's hard keeping up with the front variations.

[Rob D.]

Ditto to what Jason and Dan said. I know that with League Park and Cleveland Stadium postcards, you can find the same basic picture on what are technically four, five or more different postcards.

Here are examples of a League Park PC that's essentially the same shot:







If you look through some of these, you'll see more examples (check out the second and third rows on Page 2):

http://www.freewebs.com/indianfever/...pcsgallery.htm

As for one variation having more value, I suppose some are tougher than others, but my guess is you'd have to be pretty hard core to know which ones.

[Greenmonster]

Rob,

There are at least 7 different backs for this card. Both on ebay are authentic. No difference in scarcity or value. Good luck with your collection. Jim

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Greenmonster

Rob,

There are at least 7 different backs for this card. Both on ebay are authentic. No difference in scarcity or value. Good luck with your collection. Jim

Jim, what reference that is you're showing a scan from? Looks interesting.