Does anybody enjoy the...

[DBesse27]

I hate them all, just like I hate all unlicensed cards.

[mrmopar]

Quality is the key. Those Helmars are really nice, but many sellers are offering cheap color copies on paper not much thicker than letterhead!

Once a seller gets a taste of good money for junk, they won't stop churning out different images of the same player, so beware if you feel you need to have every one that hits the market

[clydepepper]

If they're photos new to me and the card stock and size is up to standard, I get 'em.

I picked up a '34 Goudey Ruth and a Wilson's Wieners Mantle from Steve Mitchell on the 'bay this past week...paid too much, but they're purdy.


.

[clydepepper]

Casey Stengel Brooklyn Robins Art Card.jpg1930 R319 Whitlow Wyatt art card.jpg

1965 Topps WARREN SPAHN - Bob Lemke Custom Card.jpgStrauss-Joe ARS LONGA ART CARD.jpg

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

if they're photos new to me and the card stock and size is up to standard, i get 'em.

I picked up a '34 goudey ruth and a wilson's wieners mantle from steve mitchell on the 'bay this past week...paid too much, but they're purdy.


.

1934 Goudey- BABE RUTH card that never was.jpg1954 Wilson Wieners- MICKEY MANTLE card that never was.jpg

[jchcollins]

I like cards like this and think they are a really great alternative to just buying a reprint of an actual card that I know I'll never be able to afford. With reprints the first thing I think of in looking at them is that I know they are reprints, but not with these "cards that never were." I particularly like the Topps Archives series. I have a set of them from the year they first came out, but never followed-up, I may need to look at getting back into this as a cheaper alternative to real vintage cards LOL.

I will say it's odd I think when they do a design that is not in line with the "era" of the player. For example in the first Topps Archives set, they did Willie Mays on a '55 Topps card, but the pic was clearly older and he had a SF Giants cap on. My mind immediately went to "well, that's not right..."

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Attachment 345564Attachment 345565

The Mantle "Wilson Franks" card is very cool. Could I ask where that came from?

-John

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

The Mantle "Wilson Franks" card is very cool. Could I ask where that came from?

-John

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANT...16e2%7Ciid%3A1

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANT...16e2%7Ciid%3A1

Thanks!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANT...16e2%7Ciid%3A1

And I just realized - this seller has what appears to be nicer stock cards with real backs in comparison to the cheaper - likely photocopy - version I bought without waiting for your answer yesterday. Very cool thanks again for the link!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Quality is the key. Those Helmars are really nice, but many sellers are offering cheap color copies on paper not much thicker than letterhead!

Once a seller gets a taste of good money for junk, they won't stop churning out different images of the same player, so beware if you feel you need to have every one that hits the market

How do you know if they are "real" Helmars - does only a particular seller offer them? I've seen these before and they've always looked interesting, but I've never bought one. Since I decided recently that real prewar is generally out of my price range, I was wondering if a Helmar here and there might be an affordable alternative to still get a nice piece of certain players who might otherwise be out of reach. Would be curious to hear from anyone who actually has some of these. Do you enjoy them? Do they smack of being "fake" or some type of later day reproduction? I think I might could get behind something actually with the knowledge that it was hand crafted with some thought behind what it was, and not just a cheap reprint.

[mrmopar]

I just realized that it was Banty Red that I bought, not Helmar, but the quality of the cards appears to be and is described similarly. Now as to who makes and distributes them, I want to say it is a single seller for each, but I am not sure. I know both have cards that sell very well.

Originally Posted by jchcollins

How do you know if they are "real" Helmars - does only a particular seller offer them? I've seen these before and they've always looked interesting, but I've never bought one. Since I decided recently that real prewar is generally out of my price range, I was wondering if a Helmar here and there might be an affordable alternative to still get a nice piece of certain players who might otherwise be out of reach. Would be curious to hear from anyone who actually has some of these. Do you enjoy them? Do they smack of being "fake" or some type of later day reproduction? I think I might could get behind something actually with the knowledge that it was hand crafted with some thought behind what it was, and not just a cheap reprint.