Post a Stupid Question - Prewar 101

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by BengoughingForAwhile

Before our involvement in WW II started what were pre war cards called?

The old joke is 'food'.

Brian

[glchen]

why prewar and not pre-Topps? who started calling cards from this era prewar cards and when?

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by glchen

why prewar and not pre-Topps? who started calling cards from this era prewar cards and when?

I used to call them PreWW2 cards, but found that dealers when asked this needed me to clarify what I was looking for. I think the prewar term has been prominent for about twenty years(?).

I believe that because of the virtual stop of baseball card production due to the war, it made a better break. The Pre-Topps term is not bad, except it gets a little messy with the Bowman and Leaf mass produced cards in the years before Topps entered the market.

Brian

[atx840]

Are T206 "errors" getting out of hand

[glchen]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I used to call them PreWW2 cards, but found that dealers when asked this needed me to clarify what I was looking for. I think the prewar term has been prominent for about twenty years(?).

I believe that because of the virtual stop of baseball card production due to the war, it made a better break. The Pre-Topps term is not bad, except it gets a little messy with the Bowman and Leaf mass produced cards in the years before Topps entered the market.

Brian

Thanks! Good to know.

Couldn't help but think of some more questions .... Why do Gem Mint (10) cards have off center backs? Why do so many people on ebay find cards of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner in their attic from their grandfather? Why do these same people not bother to get these cards possibly valued in the thousands graded but are willing to do an unreserved auction starting at 99 cents?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by glchen

Why do Gem Mint (10) cards have off center backs?

Because they're allowed to by the definition of Gem Mint by the grading company. PSA permits up to 75/25 on the reverse and up to 60/40 on the front. Beckett is much tougher on centering.