1915 Red Sox PC with Ruth vs 1906 W601 Tigers PC with Cobb

[robertsmithnocure]

I do not think that the Sporting Life Postcards were issued until 1907. It was customary for the Sporting Life to picture the previous year's team on their issues. They did the same with their oversized supplements as well. Here is an advertisement for their postcard set. It is from their May 18, 1907 newspaper and is the first mention of their postcard set that I can find. The wording "just issued" certainly indicates that the set was released right around the date of their publication.

[packs]

Anyone know where that particular portrait photo of Cobb comes from? He was on the team in 1905 too and Horner was taking photos in 1905. I wonder if that cabinet exists or if there was a chance Cobb appeared on an obscure team postcard while on the 1905 team.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by robertsmithnocure

I do not think that the Sporting Life Postcards were issued until 1907. It was customary for the Sporting Life to picture the previous year's team on their issues. They did the same with their oversized supplements as well. Here is an advertisement for their postcard set. It is from their May 18, 1907 newspaper and is the first mention of their postcard set that I can find. The wording "just issued" certainly indicates that the set was released right around the date of their publication.

Wow, great research!

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Wow, great research!

Agreed. But I think there is a reason people are sure its 1906. And I see that Jeff just answered that.

Paul, that 1905 is awesome. Seems like an absolute steal at $3500. I think you could easily justify another 0, maybe two (00)

[calvindog]

Multiple players featured on the W601 dated 1906 were not on the Tigers in 1907: Chris Lindsay, Red Donahue at least.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Multiple players featured on the W601 dated 1906 were not on the Tigers in 1907: Chris Lindsay, Red Donahue at least.

Could it not be the 06 team but the postcards were actually produced in Spring 1907?

I can't recall if there's a known postally used one from 1906 or not, Kevin Struss?

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Could it not be the 06 team but the postcards were actually produced in Spring 1907?

I can't recall if there's a known postally used one from 1906 or not, Kevin Struss?

The earliest postmark that I have seen for a SL postcard is April 12, 1907.

To answer Ryan's question, the earliest postmark that I have seen for the Boston Red Sox postcard is October 11, 1915.

[robertsmithnocure]

Here is the corresponding W601 Supplement along with its cover which was issued at the same time as the postcard. The Detroit image is identical to the postcard. The cover clearly states "1907" and that it includes "Teams of 1906".

This 1907 Portfolio was offered at the beginning of the 1907 baseball season.

[Rhotchkiss]

Looking at VCP, I found a Washington W601 with an April 1907 date stamp, which is before the date of the article (and two with later 1907 date stamps), but no 1906 date stamps. And, it certainly looks like it could be a 1906 image/team issued in 1907. Still, its his second earliest image (after the 1905-06 Paul posted) on a pro team, and maybe the earliest of all "card" issuances; all traditional 1907 items are post cards as well. But, perhaps that is the reason for the 10x difference.

Do we know that the 1915 Red Sox PC was issued in 1915? I cant find any with a date stamp.

[calvindog]

If the W601 PC was offered in May of 1907, I believe that's still months before any of the other Cobb "rookie" PCs were made: Seamless Steel Tubes, Dietsche, FP Burke Team PC, Heimer Team PC, RPPC Team PC, HM Taylor, Wolverine, Large Form Mailing Team PC, etc. all had October postmarks at the earliest. Kevin can correct me if I'm wrong.

[calvindog]

Here's my W601 Tigers composite.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by calvindog

If the W601 PC was offered in May of 1907, I believe that's still months before any of the other Cobb "rookie" PCs were made: Seamless Steel Tubes, Dietsche, FP Burke Team PC, Heimer Team PC, RPPC Team PC, HM Taylor, Wolverine, Large Form Mailing Team PC, etc. all had October postmarks at the earliest. Kevin can correct me if I'm wrong.

For sure, definitely still his earliest card, just thought the ad linking it to 1907 was very interesting as I had always assumed 1906.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by calvindog

If the W601 PC was offered in May of 1907, I believe that's still months before any of the other Cobb "rookie" PCs were made: Seamless Steel Tubes, Dietsche, FP Burke Team PC, Heimer Team PC, RPPC Team PC, HM Taylor, Wolverine, Large Form Mailing Team PC, etc. all had October postmarks at the earliest. Kevin can correct me if I'm wrong.

I agree with Jeff. Besides the SL team postcard, the earliest postmark that I have ever seen on a "card" picturing Ty Cobb is from October, 1907. Here are a few more specific notes that I have regarding some of Ty Cobb's earliest "cards."

Please let me know if anyone has images of any earlier postmarks.

Sporting Life Team Postcard - I have images of 12 postcards from this set with 1907 postmarks. The earliest is April 12, 1907

Detroit Seamless Postcard - of the eight Cobbs that I am awae of, seven are postmarked - four on October 4, 1907, one on October 5 and one on October 7

Wolverine Postcard - the earliest postmark from this set that I can find is October 9, 1907.

AC Dietsche Postcard - the earliest postmark from this set that I can find is October 9, 1907. For some reason, only a small percentage of postcards from this set are found cancelled. Jim Chapman has done some great research on this issue and I think that he found an October 1, 1907 newspaper ad that announced the upcoming set.

HM Taylor Postcard - the earliest postmark from this set that I can find is October 7, 1907.

W600 Sporting Life Postcard - first offered to the public in the October 19, 1907 issue of the Sporting Life.