How many cards in 1951 Bowman series 4?

[Volod]

It's generally thought to have been a nine-series set of cards, thirty-six cards in each series. Perhaps the confusion sets in when collectors introduce terms, such as low, semi-high and high to describe sequences in the numbering of the cards. The so-called "high-number series" is supposed to have started with the Mantle card as #253, however, as can be seen in this image of a partially cut 1951 Bowman sheet, Mantle was obviously not the first card on the sheet, and thus the high-number differentiation is an arbitrary standard, not imposed by Bowman or the Zabel Brothers printshop. Interesting speculative article on the 1951 Bowman printing sequence here: http://pjdenterprises.com/baseball_c...man_print.html

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks for posting that article Steve.

[tedzan]

As someone who collected the 1951 BOWMAN's as a kid when these cards were issued in 1951, I can tell you this.......

First of all, the cards were printed on 2 - 36-card sheets. Bowman initially issued them in 72-card series.

The 1st series (cards #1 - 72) were issued in the Spring of 1951 in my neighborhood.

The 2nd series (cards #73 - 144) followed. The remaining Low # cards (#145 - 252) were issued during the Summer of 1951.

The last series cards (#253 - 324) were available in late Summer > early Fall of '51 (this varied distribution regionally).

Again, this was the sequence in my neighborhood in Hillside, NJ. Most likely, the distribution of these cards varied regionally.


TED Z
.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by tedzan

As someone who collected the 1951 BOWMAN's as a kid when these cards were issued in 1951, I can tell you this.......

First of all, the cards were printed on 2 - 36-card sheets. Bowman initially issued them in 72-card series.

The 1st series (cards #1 - 72) were issued in the Spring of 1951 in my neighborhood.

The 2nd series (cards #73 - 144) followed. The remaining Low # cards (#145 - 252) were issued during the Summer of 1951.

The last series cards (#253 - 324) were available in late Summer > early Fall of '51 (this varied distribution regionally).

Again, this was the sequence in my neighborhood in Hillside, NJ. Most likely, the distribution of these cards varied regionally.


TED Z
.

Thanks for your knowledge. Was the mid series in one 108 card series or 36/72 or 36/36/36?

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by rats60

Thanks for your knowledge. Was the mid series in one 108 card series or 36/72 or 36/36/36?

I clearly remember acquiring cards #1 - 72 in the Spring of 1951.

And, I remember either purchasing (or trading for) the Hi #s in late Summer of '51.

In between, my recollection is "fuzzy" regarding the mid-series cards.


Then in early Fall of '51, the Bowman FB cards were available.



1951 original 24-count Waxpack box (electronically flattened)

.................................

..................................


1st series




Mid-series




Hi # series





TED Z
.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Volod

It's generally thought to have been a nine-series set of cards, thirty-six cards in each series. Perhaps the confusion sets in when collectors introduce terms, such as low, semi-high and high to describe sequences in the numbering of the cards. The so-called "high-number series" is supposed to have started with the Mantle card as #253, however, as can be seen in this image of a partially cut 1951 Bowman sheet, Mantle was obviously not the first card on the sheet, and thus the high-number differentiation is an arbitrary standard, not imposed by Bowman or the Zabel Brothers printshop. Interesting speculative article on the 1951 Bowman printing sequence here: http://pjdenterprises.com/baseball_c...man_print.html

Pardon me, I have to correct the statement: "..Mantle was obviously not the first card on the sheet..". Mantle's card (#253) was the first card on this sheet (in the upper left corner).

This sheet includes the first group of Hi #s.... #253 - 288. It was mis-cut at the Zabel Bros. printing firm. Here are the card numbers of this mis-cut sheet......

#271 >> 279 (top row)
#280 >> 288 (2nd row)
#253 >> 261 (3rd row)
#262 >> 270 (4th row)

I collect uncut sheets, and all the other sheets of this group that I've seen are straight forward #253 >> 288.


TED Z
.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Pardon me, I have to correct the statement: "..Mantle was obviously not the first card on the sheet..". Mantle's card (#253) was the first card on this sheet (in the upper left corner).

This sheet includes the first group of Hi #s.... #253 - 288. It was mis-cut at the Zabel Bros. printing firm. Here are the card numbers of this mis-cut sheet......

#271 >> 279 (top row)
#280 >> 288 (2nd row)
#253 >> 261 (3rd row)
#262 >> 270 (4th row)

I collect uncut sheets, and all the other sheets of this group that I've seen are straight forward #253 >> 288.


TED Z
.

You're right, Ted, of course. This unusual uncut sheet led me to the wrong conclusion, since the cards were not in number sequence.
Do you have any idea how this out-of-sequence sheet could have been printed? It does not seem to be mis-cut, since the printed rows are all correctly aligned, so was it actually mis-printed somehow? In any case, I apologize for assuming it was a regular sheet.

[steve B]

It's not a complete sheet.

http://apr08.hugginsandscott.com/cgi...pl?itemid=7410

The large one with 282 cards may be complete. It shows good side margins, but not much margin at the top or bottom. The designs repeat, but the right is two rows lower than the left.

It's possible that the cards were printed on a press that prints on a continuous roll of paper. (web fed) If that's the case, there would be no upper or lower margins although there's usually at least some gap where the plate begins and ends.

Steve B