N172 question ?

[trdcrdkid]

Gary --

To answer your question briefly: all four of your cards are 1887 OJs, which have the Old Judge logo at the top of the card. The ones with the hotdog-style logo are type A, and the one with a rectangular logo in the upper left (second from the left in your picture) are type B. (At least I think that's right, off the top of my head.) OJs from 1888, 1889, and 1890 have "Old Judge" at the bottom of the card below the picture, and can be distinguished as follows:

1888: "Cigarettes" on line below "Old Judge"
1889: "Cigarette Factory" on line below "Old Judge"
1890: "Cigarette Factory" on line below "Old Judge", and "(N.L.)" or "(P.L.)" after team name.

There are more complexities that that, but those are the basics. If you want to know more, you should definitely get the Old Judge book, which has everything you could possibly want to know about these cards.

[oldjudge]

Thanks David. “passion for research” just seemed incongruous with a question which is answered in multiple places in the Old Judge book and was also answered on the chat board about a week ago. As I get older I get more sensitive to incongruity.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Thanks David. “passion for research” just seemed incongruous with a question which is answered in multiple places in the Old Judge book and was also answered on the chat board about a week ago. As I get older I get more sensitive to incongruity.

I'm with Jay on this one. The Old Judge book is the best research book ever written about baseball cards, and I think any question you can possibly have about Old Judges will be answered if you make an effort to read it.

Given how cumbersome some research can be, having so much information in one place makes it indispensable. If Jay is a little cranky about it, so am I.

[ramram]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm with Jay on this one. The Old Judge book is the best research book ever written about baseball cards, and I think any question you can possibly have about Old Judges will be answered if you make an effort to read it.

Given how cumbersome some research can be, having so much information in one place makes it indispensable. If Jay is a little cranky about it, so am I.

Come on Barry, you mostly just like the fact that he used the words "incongruous" and "incongruity"!

Rob M

[RCMcKenzie]

.

[Ricky]

I will say this in defense of the OP... he may not have known about the Goodwin book or had easy access to it. He may have seen it available on Amazon and not known the type of information it contains. Isn't one of the purposes of this forum to ask and receive answers to these types of questions?

[oldjudge]

A close relative

[garymc]

I wouldn't read that book now if you gave it to me.....thank you for your kindness !