Old Judge Proof?

[triwak]

Sure looks like a trimmed N173 to me. I own this one.

[slidekellyslide]

They all were pulled off of something...I still think it was a display of some sort.

[Exhibitman]

On the back there is a handwritte "A7776"; any ideas on what that means?

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

They all were pulled off of something...I still think it was a display of some sort.

Are you referring to just the image? I bought it thinking it may have just been an image from something else that was reattached to a backing board, but I really don't know enough about cabinets from this era to know anything that wasn't put in the Goodwin Book.

[drcy]

The cardboard mount is period. The gold angled edges dates it to that time.

There are the 'Vermont find' pseudo-proofs that were made in 1900s, but, without having seen one in person, the so-called proofs with the standard N173 mount shape and style in general always looked okay to me. Though I don't know that they are actual proofs. Some may have been samples sent by the studio to Goodwyn and some may have been sold to the public by the studio. If a cabinet was found in the Goodwyn archives or with the Goodwyn embossed stamp on the image, then it's safe to assume it's sample, proof or something on that order. I have seen cabinets with the tobacco manufacturer's embossed stamp on the images, so there's no doubt about they're being some sort of production item. I believe the Kalamzoo Bats cabinet Proofs with the black mounts have embossed stamps on the images. Without any markings, provenance or other information, it's hard to tell just looking at the cabinet.

One thing is the N173 Proofs (quote unquote) are rather plentiful (relatively speaking), which would suggest at least some were sold publicly by the studio. Normally, genuine studio proofs or production items are rare and, in fact, the Kalamazoo Bats Proofs are amongst the rarest cards in the hobby.

As has already been said, this one resembles a trimmed N173.

[Runscott]

If Jay says it's a trimmed N173, then I would go with that 100%.

As far as the rounded corners on the actual print, it could be that they were cut that way intentionally for aesthetics, although for normal cabinet issues this would not be common.

[bn2cardz]

If it really is a trimmed N173 that would make it even better to me. Especially since, from what I understand (purely from the auction description), this is not a confirmed cabinet photo for this player.

Thank you for all the help thus far. I am glad to know that there isn't a consensus on the origins then I don't feel so dumb for not knowing myself

Maybe by the time I die and my wife has to sell it off (or I find I need to sell it for a replacement purchase) there will be more of a consensus. I like having pieces in my collection that have a little mystery.

[drcy]

There's plenty of mystery with Pre-War baseball cards. There are cards where no one know who made them or how or with what product they were issued.

[oldjudge]

There might not be a consensus, but it is a trimmed N173. You can take that to the bank. BTW, the fact that the pose is not listed as an N173 in a catalog means nothing. N173s have not really been cataloged, except in the Cartophilic Soc listing, and that has not been updated for decades.

[z28jd]

Are the known N173 poses going to be listed in your next book, Jay? I have one that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Not that anyone needs my opinion after Jay said so twice, but this is a trimmed N173. I have trimmed ones, this is what they look like.