Old Joe Dimaggio Tattoo/Transfer

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Posted By: Alan Elefson

Hi-
I posted once before on cards from the 60s for which you have my sincere apologies (I had just discovered the board at the time, and did not realize it was off topic), and have been lurking ever since. This is an incredible source of information and I thank all of you who provide such valuable knowledge.
On that vein, I recently purchased an odd item I was hoping I could get some information about. It is a thin long piece of cardboard with 5 different tattos/transfers. One of the five is a depiction of a baseball player with the word DIMAGGIO in block letters along the bottom. There is also a football player (no name), Tarzan with tiger, a horseman and a pirate. I was told the pirate image resembles the late 1940s Leaf Pirate set. These are oversized, and are made of very thin tissue type paper. There are several of each, and all are held to the backing with a staple near the top of the tattoo/transfer.
The flea market dealer I purchased it from said she thought it might have been part of a send away premium in the late 1940s, but she did not remember a company. My guess is that it might be something sold in the store (with a more colorful backing probably), a kid could take one off from the stapled group for purchase. I was also told that the tattoos/transfers resembled the 1956 Davey Crocket transfer from Topps I believe (the year is correct, I might have an incorrect manufacturer).
I tried inserting the scan, but could not figure out how. I would gladly email someone the scan to hopefully post to this thread. Otherwise, my email address is aelefson@hotmail.com, and I can send it to anyone. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Alan Elefson

I think I figured out how to post a scan.

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Posted By: leon

40's is usually goodness on the board....we've even been known to dip into the 50's every now and then . This looks to be in that range but I am a novice at this type of id, however I do have a one of these transfers too. It's about 7" tall by 3 1/2" wide ....and is on a kind of wax paper. Looks just like this one. I think I paid about $25 on ebay not too long ago....regards

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Posted By: Alan Elefson

Leon-
Do you have a scan of the tattoo you acquired on Ebay? I would like to attempt to determine the manufacturer, the method of distribution, and whether there are more in the "set". Also, if you have a link to the ebay auction, that would be excellent.
Anyone Else,
Do you own one of these in your collection? If so, who made them? Are they catalogued?
Thanks for any help,
Alan

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Posted By: leon

It was from quite a while ago and won't be up anymore on ebay. All the auction said is that it was a transfer from the 40's.....I could post a scan but suffice it to say it's identical to yours....very bright colors too..

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Posted By: alan elefson

Hi-
I thought I would provide an update on this piece. So far I have found two other collectors who have a Dimaggio, and a few other people who have seen one or two over time. One local dealer told me he believed they are catalogued in a nonsports priceguide for candy cards that was published in the mid to late 1990s. He said there were several more tattoos to the set, mostly of cartoon characters and other nonsports designs. He believed the football player was designed to be Bronko Nagurski (it does not appear to look like him in my opinion), and that the set dated to the mid to late 1940s. I have not been able to confirm this listing as I am not sure which nonsports card catalog he was referring to.
I also spoke with the dealer I originally purchased it from. He said it was part of a store display he had purchased in the late 1960s. ZThe gentleman he purchased the display from thought the tattoos dated to the mid to late 1940s. He said there were other tattoos on the display and will be showing them to me if he can find them in his wharehouse.
Once again, if you know anything about these cards, please let me know. I am also trying to determine a fair value for the Dimaggio, so if you own one, please let me know how much you acquired it for (if you do not mind stating that). Thanks again for everyone's help.
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

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Posted By: Bottom of the Ninth

Alan,

I have a Jackie Robinson from this same "series". I will send you a scan of it later on if you would like it.

Take care,

Greg

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Posted By: leon

Where else can I actually show this Dimaggio transfer/tattoo and have any relevence at all ? This is 3/4 size...