Attention S74 Silk Collectors

[Touch'EmAll]

Here is a nice one - colored version. I thought they were all folded to go in cigarette packs. But this one appears to not be folded, hmm. And I have never been sure what the difference is between Colored vs. With Backing. I always just assumed simply two varieties folded into packs, but maybe there is more to that story.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Here is a nice one - colored version. I thought they were all folded to go in cigarette packs. But this one appears to not be folded, hmm. And I have never been sure what the difference is between Colored vs. With Backing. I always just assumed simply two varieties folded into packs, but maybe there is more to that story.

That's a beauty! At one time I had six different colored WaJos.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Here is a nice one - colored version. I thought they were all folded to go in cigarette packs. But this one appears to not be folded, hmm. And I have never been sure what the difference is between Colored vs. With Backing. I always just assumed simply two varieties folded into packs, but maybe there is more to that story.

You do know that being made of a satin material, any of the silks that don't still have the paper backing attached can be easily ironed flat, right? One of the reasons why getting them graded, especially the S74-2 colored version silks that were not distributed with a backing attached, is kind of worthless. Think about it!

There are some of the ad-backed S74-1 white version silks that are on very rare occasions found without the folding of their paper backing. The is no definitive proof, but since the vast majority of ad-backed white silks all have the folded backs, the speculation is that those found in the hobby without having been folded were likely never distributed in the cigarette packs. Instead, they mere maybe used and given out as samples to sellers possibly, or maybe some factory workers grabbed a few and took them home to give to family, friends, or whomever. And since the TPGs that do grade the S74 silks count the folds against their condition, like they do creases in regular cards, is it really surprising to think that for those S74-2 colored silks that never had any ad-backings attached that someone submitting them for grading wouldn't opt to iron out those creases first? Again, think about it!

And that is a very nice silk by the way. Nice centering and color, both the top and bottom edge sealing marks are present, and only some minimal fraying at the bottom right corner present. Also seems to maybe be a partially missing thread on the right side of the silk as well, with what is remaining from the thread still visible in the bottom right corner. Still presents very well. So here's a great question for you. Knowing the vast majority of silks, including the colored version ones, were folded when distributed in the cigarette packs, should the TPG that graded this Mathewson silk as an 80/6 EX-NM, maybe have downgraded it quite a bit instead for it having been altered by ironing the fold/crease out before it was submitted for grading? Interesting question/dilemma, isn't it?