Piedmont 42’s Ink

[ronniehatesjazz]

Maybe this is well known but are the p42’s printed in a lighter blue than the other piedmont’s... seems everyone I’ve seen is very distinctively lighter... at least for the t206’s.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Hey Tyler,

I've noticed the same thing but have seen P42s that are the same darker blue as a regular Piedmont back as well. I would agree that most of the are lighter though.

[ronniehatesjazz]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Hey Tyler,

I've noticed the same thing but have seen P42s that are the same darker blue as a regular Piedmont back as well. I would agree that most of the are lighter though.

Thanks Andy! I like your site btw... oddly enough I was born in the same town Jimmy Wynn is from. Good look with the project!

[Scott L.]

A dark one......

[Sean]

Some of them are as dark as regular Piedmonts, some are very light.

[swarmee]

Could be a soaking or bleaching issue, or ink loss from scrapbook glue. Could also be the printer letting the ink get lower during the course of the print run.

[kateighty]

I've noticed this myself over the years and wonder if it's a result of the tobacco they were packed with. Sort of like when perfect garlic turns purple due to whatever it was fertilized with or else simply coming into contact with something particularly acidic. Definitely share your curiosity!

[sreader3]

Yup -- some are lighter blue, some are "normal" Piedmont blue.

I have never surveyed but I suspect the lighter ones are like 70/30 or 60/40. Adam G. may have the best insight -- if he is still on Net54.

[tedzan]

Hey guys,

The blue ink on these PIEDMONT Factory #42 cards varies all over the place. Many of them are very light blue, while others are a darker blue (typical of PIEDMONT cards).
These PIEDMONT cards, and the UZIT cards were printed in the last production runs of the T206 set (circa Jan - Feb 1911). Both these backs exhibit this blue ink variation.
It has nothing to do with environmental or chemical or human tinkering with these cards. American Lithographic, for whatever reasons printed some with their normal blue
ink, and others with a "diluted" blue ink.







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And, two semi-dark blue ones......

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And, two light blue cards.....


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TED Z

T206 Reference
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[Leon]

As a casual collector I see quite a few (relative to how many there are) of the lighter blue shade P42s.

[CobbSpikedMe]

There are also examples of non P42s that have the lighter blue ink. I've looked at several lighter blue examples on eBay over the years thinking I've found a P42 only to be proven wrong upon closer inspection.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by sreader3

Yup -- some are lighter blue, some are "normal" Piedmont blue.

I have never surveyed but I suspect the lighter ones are like 70/30 or 60/40. Adam G. may have the best insight -- if he is still on Net54.

Spot on Scot....Having said that, most that I have had over the years have had the very pale blue ink....