Goodwin Auction is open + Peck & Snyder Discussion

[GaryPassamonte]

It is odd that all but the Creighton were available in 1871. If the Creighton was "sold out" why is there only one surviving example, while there are multiples of most of the other cards? Could it have come later as Jay points out? Why not?

[barrysloate]

Well the fact is we don't know the date of it, so anything is possible. I saw the verso a really long time ago (probably around 1990) and as I recall the ad for the store seems to be quite a bit less ornate than the ones we are familiar with. It just looks older. That is of course not scientific but we don't know its origin. As far as why only one survived, there may not be a good explanation for that. Maybe it was the first attempt by P & S and it was issued in a very small print run. Who knows?

[benjulmag]

Seems illogical that if P&S was still in the business of issuing trade cards in 1872, they would select a fellow who died 10 years prior over more popular (and therefore more commerically viable) contemporary baseball teams/individuals. Also too, the verso of the P&S Creighton is considerably less ornate than what P&S later used. Seems illogical that as time went on they would become less skilled at self-promotion. In the end, as has been discussed a number of times, nobody knows for certain the precise year the Creighton card was issued. But based on everything known, I believe it is more logical to believe it predated the other known P&S's.

[barrysloate]

My best guess as to when the Creighton was issued is sometime between 1865 and 1867. Creighton could have been honored at any time after his death, and would have been an excellent first choice for the series.

[GaryPassamonte]

I believe there is a thread that shows Peck and Snyder did not become business partners until 1868. If the Creighton has a Peck and Snyder ad, it must have been issued 1868 or later.

[Joe_G.]

I have nothing to add but want to thank Corey, Jay, Barry, and Gary for discussing P&S history. Sounds like the theory has evolved a bit since the 1995 VCBC article. This would make for a magnificent OC article especially if you can include some color images. I love this stuff even though it's out of my scope.

[barrysloate]

While the front of the Creighton has been published several times, I don't believe the back ever has. And since it is unique, containing both a biography of the fallen star as well as an unfamiliar P & S ad, it would be worthwhile to see. Maybe there is a clue there.