Early Ruth Cards

[pcoz]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I guess my question now is would these c1915 postcards have changed hands at prices exceeding $20K-$25K if they were labeled by SGC as 1915-17 as they were described by REA in their 2011 auction? It should be noted that SGC is not incorrect in their labeling as c1915 means around that year and is not a definitive date.

Old Cardboard has the side image RPPC as its 1915 Ruth rookie PC, and said it's possibly the first image printed of Ruth on cardboard. A member of the Hot Springs Historical Society some time ago told me the society made reproduced framed PC sets from the original 1915 PC's I have, and gave them out to 6 retiring SABR members as gifts upon their retirement. The original RPPC photos were taken from Majestic Field in Hot Springs Arkansas, where the inception of their training camp started in 1886. Two are 1 of 1's and the other a 1 of 2. Even if these were from '16 or '17 which I'm confident they are not, just look at the Collins McCarthy or Boston Store Ruth's and their prices. SGC/PSA will just not put an exact year down on them. I have a handful of RPPC's and they never put the date down unless it's listed on the front of the card. I believe their value will only increase in the years to come given their rarity. Just my opinion.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by pcoz

Old Cardboard has the side image RPPC as its 1915 Ruth rookie PC, and said it's possibly the first image printed of Ruth on cardboard. A member of the Hot Springs Historical Society some time ago told me the society made reproduced framed PC sets from the original 1915 PC's I have, and gave them out to 6 retiring SABR members as gifts upon their retirement. The original RPPC photos were taken from Majestic Field in Hot Springs Arkansas, where the inception of their training camp started in 1886. Two are 1 of 1's and the other a 1 of 2. Even if these were from '16 or '17 which I'm confident they are not, just look at the Collins McCarthy or Boston Store Ruth's and their prices. SGC/PSA will just not put an exact year down on them. I have a handful of RPPC's and they never put the date down unless it's listed on the front of the card. I believe their value will only increase in the years to come given their rarity. Just my opinion.

Pete,

Any early Ruth Boston Red Sox cards, photos, memorabilia, etc. have unlimited investment potential. While the EXACT year of those RPPC's may never be determined, the fact that they originated during Ruth's early years with Boston coupled with their extreme rarity is sufficient enough. They are incredible cardboard collectibles with infinite value growth!

Joe T.

[pcoz]

Joe,
Thanks for your input on them. You would know as much as anyone on these as you do most everything else in the hobby. Just happy to have some early Ruth in the collection! Happy Easter
Pete

[LincolnVT]

Joe:

What about the 1915 Red Sox "American League Champions" RPPC of the team with Ruth? Seems like both SGC and PSA are now grading these as 1915 rather than c. 1915.

Ethan

[pcoz]

Ethan, if there is a date listed on the front of the PC, I can't see why SGC/PSA wouldn't list the year in the title. If they hadn't before, they probably should since the piece states the year. It's where there isn't one listed on the front, or if there is one listed on the back from a postmark where there's some ambiguity. Like Joe said, and we're probably splitting hairs, the period and rarity are sufficient enough.

[Leon]

Shown before (haven't they all been?) but this is the only one of these I have seen. There are most likely others out there yet to be found....

[LincolnVT]

Very cool early Ruth / Cobb Leon. Beautiful stuff being shown on this thread!

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Leon

Shown before (haven't they all been?) but this is the only one of these I have seen. There are most likely others out there yet to be found....

Leon-
Glad to see you're getting change back on your purchases.

At that rate, you'll be able to afford a Wagner in 4,877 years.