1949 leaf

[steve B]

Well, I finally have one of my projects I've been wanting to do for a while ready enough to show.

I did a spreadsheet for the "common" 49 Leaf set, showing the different versions side by side.
It's pretty much only a preliminary thing right now. I think there's some expansion needed, which may be next.
Right now it's got columns for
"normal" usually shaded caps, no extra lines between figures/bats and theborder
"Almost normal" (I need a better name for most categories) generally unshaded caps, regular colors, but with lines between the figures/bats/caps and the border.
Pink - the ones with bright pink instead of red. Plus a few oddities and transitional cards.

All put together from Ebay scans, and I'm positive there's a bunch I just haven't seen yet.
I don't have it on file sharing, but I can send a copy by email if you want one.
Here's a couple teaser screenshots.

[tedzan]

Here are some of my LEAF color variations (both 1st and 2nd series cards) for you to ponder over, Steve.












And then, there is BLUE or no BLUE.





I have some more somewhere in my archives. I'll post them when I find them.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

.

[CW]

Sounds like an intriguing project, Steve.

Always enjoy seeing some '49 Leaf variations. (nice ones, Ted)

"Griffins" also has some sweet examples, some posted years ago on the CU forum, which became the early inspiration that got me interested in these cards.

[steve B]

Always good to see some more 49 Leaf.

I've been meaning to ask Ted if he recalls whether the bright pink ones came out earlier or later than the more normal ones.

I've been trying to figure out if they had the nicer printing and went cheaper over time, or if it was bad at first and they gradually improved?

Steve B

[nolemmings]

Steve,

I would like a copy of your spreadsheet. I am at least momentarily interested in the Leaf set, although I do not collect it. I just created a virtual album of the cards from the recent near set offered by Heritage, if you'd like to take a look.
https://imageevent.com/imoverhere/scans/194849leaf

[Griffins]

A few from the set I used to own

[tedzan]

Anthony

Thanks for the kudos regarding my 1949 LEAF (8-page) article in the OC (issue #9).

Originally Posted by steve B

Always good to see some more 49 Leaf.

I've been meaning to ask Ted if he recalls whether the bright pink ones came out earlier or later than the more normal ones.

I've been trying to figure out if they had the nicer printing and went cheaper over time, or if it was bad at first and they gradually improved?

Steve B

Steve

These cards were available in my neighborhood in early Spring of 1949. The 1st series were plentiful. Between 9 (or 10) kids my age we had over 1000 of these LEAF's.
We pooled our knowledge, and by comparing cards, we were able to figure out that 49 cards constituted a complete set (in this 1st series). LEAF skip-numbered these
cards, so there was no way that by yourself you could figure this out.

Now, to your question.....
with the exception of the Joe DiMaggio card, the colors were perfect on all the other cards we had. A few DiMaggio cards had a pale yellow background color, instead of
the normal green seen in my DiMag card pictured here.





Feel free to ask me any questions you may have regarding these 1949 LEAF's.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[steve B]

Thanks Ted, That gives me a bit of info about how they were when they were new. Stuff like that is hard to find on any set, let alone one from before I was born.

I have pics of DiMaggio like that one, as well as the yellowish back and with Pink for the name box and fleshtones. So far I can pick out three main groups, with a couple transitional ones and a couple that are hard to figure out.

"First" group - No idea if it was actually first - Normal ish colors, generally shaded hats and generally no lines dividing the bat or figure from the border

"Second" - Unshaded hats, and generally lines dividing the bat or figure from the border.

"third" - The same as second, except the M in the CMYK really is Magenta instead of the more usual red. Blue is also generally very dark. (On this one for DiMaggio his hat is solid blue) These can be tough to spot on some cards, especially Robinson and some other portraits.