1907-1910 Weiser Wonder - Walter Johnson PC, new to the hobby

[h2oya311]

White border looks like one that sold a few years ago w/ 1918 postmark for $2,400. I would say it's c1915-1920...and I bet the seller was floored! I would have been happy wih it at the $1200+ range, not $2k+ range...but you certainly don't see these very often!!

Perhaps a member purchased this card and we can put the "photo of photo" vs. RPPC debate to rest w/ up-close scan!

[VintageBall]

Yesterday's card was sold by a seller with other Weiser and Idaho postcards that were postmarked 1920 and 1921 and were identical in style of front and back (white border real photo cards with same photo paper).

The real shocker here is the price for a card that was issued late in Johnson's career and is a low quality reproduction of the image on the original postcard which likely was issued c.1909-1911. When these real photo copy cards first hit the market in a couple of auctions, they were stand-alone lots. Here, this one was auctioned alongside others that depicted scenes and/or postmarks indicating a c. 1920 issue date.

So...while it is a really scarce postcard, it is, in essence, an early reprint of a card of a HOFer in a town team uniform!

What does this mean for the price of a Barr-Farnham Walter Johnson postcard, which was issued in 1909 as part of the set depicting individual Washington major league players on each card? And no I don't own one -- wish I did!

Here are what the Barr-Farnham cards look like:






Robert S

[Jaybird]

Originally Posted by VintageBall

Yesterday's card was sold by a seller with other Weiser and Idaho postcards that were postmarked 1920 and 1921 and were identical in style of front and back (white border real photo cards with same photo paper).

The real shocker here is the price for a card that was issued late in Johnson's career and is a low quality reproduction of the image on the original postcard which likely was issued c.1909-1911. When these real photo copy cards first hit the market in a couple of auctions, they were stand-alone lots. Here, this one was auctioned alongside others that depicted scenes and/or postmarks indicating a c. 1920 issue date.

So...while it is a really scarce postcard, it is, in essence, an early reprint of a card of a HOFer in a town team uniform!

What does this mean for the price of a Barr-Farnham Walter Johnson postcard, which was issued in 1909 as part of the set depicting individual Washington major league players on each card? And no I don't own one -- wish I did!

Robert S

I agree with everything you said, Robert. In my experience, that stampbox, while possible to have 1910 is "usually" a 1918 or later piece. I can tell you that everytime I have come across that stampbox it is on something later than 1918. I know Playle's has it as 1910-1930 but that isn't my experience or the experience of many other PC collectors. So even without the other PCs that it sold with, I would peg it to 1920s anyway.

I also think that the buyer might have gotten a little excited just by the subject matter and not looked deeper into the card itself. I think this is a photo of the Cabinet photo and not of the other postcard. The Cabinet photo which sold in Legendary 2006 is also sepia and you can see where this PC was cropped in from that image.

[WillowGrove]

Originally Posted by VintageBall

Yesterday's card was sold by a seller with other Weiser and Idaho postcards that were postmarked 1920 and 1921 and were identical in style of front and back (white border real photo cards with same photo paper).

The real shocker here is the price for a card that was issued late in Johnson's career and is a low quality reproduction of the image on the original postcard which likely was issued c.1909-1911. When these real photo copy cards first hit the market in a couple of auctions, they were stand-alone lots. Here, this one was auctioned alongside others that depicted scenes and/or postmarks indicating a c. 1920 issue date.

So...while it is a really scarce postcard, it is, in essence, an early reprint of a card of a HOFer in a town team uniform!

What does this mean for the price of a Barr-Farnham Walter Johnson postcard, which was issued in 1909 as part of the set depicting individual Washington major league players on each card? And no I don't own one -- wish I did!

Here are what the Barr-Farnham cards look like:




Robert S

I too agree 100% with you Rob. I was interested, did my research (thanks to our wonderful forum) and decided I'd save my money towards 'the older' version of this card - should it ever come up again. Still a cool, rare card.

Now those Barr-Farnham cards. Whoa. Thanks for posting - I never heard of them and I love them. -peter

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by WillowGrove

Now those Barr-Farnham cards. Whoa. Thanks for posting

Woah Indeed.

http://www.goodwinandco.com/LotDetai...ventoryid=9089

[nsaddict]

The seller has already left feedback for the buyer. For those inquiring minds