JD McCarthy postcard question

[Exhibitman]

The only really reliable dating i know of is postmarks. I will pay more for a postally-used card with a clear date on it; ironically, they often sell for less because they won't slab better than a 1.5.



Mailed in 1957 from Brooklyn? Yeah, that's a rookie. And this is from Koufax's final season:



The most you can do otherwise is rule out certain date claims as anachronisms (e.g., a Los Angeles Dodgers hat cannot be made pre-1958). Besides that, dating is inductive reasoning: a certain cap or uni style only proves the earliest date of manufacture, not the actual or last.



I have seen this card sold as a Gibson rookie or with any of a variety of dates attributed to it. This photo has to be 1962-63 because the Cardinals first put front numbers on the jersey in 1962 and went to red caps in 1964 for home, all games in 1965. A claim that it is pre-1962 is an anachronism: cannot be true. 1962-63 cannot be established either. The card could have been made any time after the photo was taken. The absence of a ZIP code on the back only proves that the back was typeset before McCarthy created a ZIP code back for this card, not when it was printed, though it does suggest that it was printed pre-ZIP code because McCarthy did put them on the cards eventually.

[Will Allison]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The only really reliable dating i know of is postmarks. I will pay more for a postally-used card with a clear date on it; ironically, they often sell for less because they won't slab better than a 1.5.



Mailed in 1957 from Brooklyn? Yeah, that's a rookie. And this is from Koufax's final season:



The most you can do otherwise is rule out certain date claims as anachronisms (e.g., a Los Angeles Dodgers hat cannot be made pre-1958). Besides that, dating is inductive reasoning: a certain cap or uni style only proves the earliest date of manufacture, not the actual or last.



I have seen this card sold as a Gibson rookie or with any of a variety of dates attributed to it. This photo has to be 1962-63 because the Cardinals first put front numbers on the jersey in 1962 and went to red caps in 1964 for home, all games in 1965. A claim that it is pre-1962 is an anachronism: cannot be true. 1962-63 cannot be established either. The card could have been made any time after the photo was taken. The absence of a ZIP code on the back only proves that the back was typeset before McCarthy created a ZIP code back for this card, not when it was printed, though it does suggest that it was printed pre-ZIP code because McCarthy did put them on the cards eventually.

Hi Adam, Will Allison here. Any chance you'd consider trading or selling that 1957 J.D. McCarthy Don Drysdale? For what it's worth, McCarthy did produce an earlier card of Drysdale, a standing pose. I have an example postmarked 1956. You can see it here:

https://imageevent.com/willallison/mccarthy

[Will Allison]

Originally Posted by Will Allison

Hi Adam, Will Allison here. Any chance you'd consider trading or selling that 1957 J.D. McCarthy Don Drysdale? For what it's worth, McCarthy did produce an earlier card of Drysdale, a standing pose. I have an example postmarked 1956. You can see it here:

https://imageevent.com/willallison/mccarthy

Also that George Brace PC of Bob Gibson is likely from 1965. I've documented three postmarked versions from 1965 and have seen none earlier.