Best pre-war set in terms of photo quality

[SAllen2556]

I have not seen enough pre-war black and white cards in person to really have a good idea of what set offers the highest quality in terms of photo reproduction - sharpness, contrast, etc.

The M101 series seem better than most, but it’s tough to tell from a computer screen. Any thoughts? I’m mainly a Detroit Tiger collector and I’d like to pursue cards from the teens and 20’s when nothing in color was really being produced besides strip cards, of which I am not a fan. Does any set even approach the quality of a good original photo? Or, to simplify things, what's the best looking Harry Heilmann card out there?

[Leon]

There are some sets with great photo quality, D381 is one of them (to me). The reason I think I started collecting real photo postcards is because of their great clarity..

[SAllen2556]

Thank you men - lots of good suggestions. What, exactly, does "Rubber" refer to? Was he the team masseuse? 3 rubs for a quarter?

Originally Posted by Leon

There are some sets with great photo quality, D381 is one of them (to me). The reason I think I started collecting real photo postcards is because of their great clarity..

[Joe_G.]

Hello Scott,

If you lift the 20th century requirement, I agree with Jay, Old Judge cabinets or the small N172s. Hobby friend Joe Maples and I have both completed full run of the 1887 N172s(Detroit's Championship year), 28 cards in all. I've attached a sample of the 1887 cards. Most Old Judges have taken a sepia tint with time but were black and white when produced/distributed. The Twitchell example below being close to how they looked when produced.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

As far as your tack on question about Heilmann cards, I have always liked the E121 of him in batting pose.

Brian

- added scan (card not mine)

[orly57]

Erick states a great case for those d381s. Amazing portraits. And that Chief Myers is as cool as it gets.

[seanofjapan]

Some of the center panel pictures on the T202s are pretty impressive.

[x2drich2000]

While it doesn't have a Heilmann that I recall and can't think of many Tigers in the set, the T222 set has great images. The biggest drawbacks to the set are that it is extremely difficult to complete due to some of the shortprints being nearly impossible to find, and when they are found, are insanely expensive, and the set is extremely condition sensitive so looking for anything about VG is extremely difficult.

DJ

[drcy]

The T222s, and T200s, are actual photographs.

[smtjoy]

M101-6 Larger size and most are unique shots.
love this shot and background building (not mine)-

[Bicem]

Fatima if you want actual photos.

[oldjudge]

Old Judge cabinets (N173)

[JeremyW]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

While it doesn't have a Heilmann that I recall and can't think of many Tigers in the set, the T222 set has great images. The biggest drawbacks to the set are that it is extremely difficult to complete due to some of the shortprints being nearly impossible to find, and when they are found, are insanely expensive, and the set is extremely condition sensitive so looking for anything about VG is extremely difficult.

DJ

I agree, Fatima T222 has some of the best photographic images of any early 20th century set.

[Bicem]

Great photos Leon!

[brianp-beme]

I have always considered the W503 set (not a strip card) has the sharpest photos seen on smaller size PreWW2 cards. Here are a couple of low condition but still fantastic looking examples...my old scans don't do their clarity justice.

Brian

[yanksfan09]

D381