Felix Mendelsohn & M101-4 and M101-5

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Shankweather

For 1916 M101 sets that used both checklists (-4 and -5), and for those 29 players in the sets that had the same card # in each set, is there any way to differentiate one from the other? Can you tell the difference between an M101-4 Gimbels Babe Adams and an M101-5 Gimbels Babe Adams?

M101-4 and m101-5 Gimbels cards are readily distinguishable by the fonts used on the backs. The m101-5 Gimbels are only found in card #s 1-20, and have straight block lettering for the store name, while the m101-4s have slanted or italicized looking lettering and can be found with any of the 1-200 card numbers, although low numbers 1-20 are scarce.
The different backs are displayed on Old Cardboard's site: https://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m101-4/backs-gallery.asp
So yes, you can easily tell the difference between the two Babe Adams cards.

[Shankweather]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

M101-4 and m101-5 Gimbels cards are readily distinguishable by the fonts used on the backs. The m101-5 Gimbels are only found in card #s 1-20, and have straight block lettering for the store name, while the m101-4s have slanted or italicized looking lettering and can be found with any of the 1-200 card numbers, although low numbers 1-20 are scarce.
The different backs are displayed on Old Cardboard's site: https://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m101-4/backs-gallery.asp
So yes, you can easily tell the difference between the two Babe Adams cards.

Thanks for all the info. I love what a mess these sets are, and I also love that you all did all the work already. Gimbels was a bad example because it actually has back variations. What about Standard Biscuit or Morehouse Baking? Is the cardstock the only way to tell with those?

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Shankweather

Thanks for all the info. I love what a mess these sets are, and I also love that you all did all the work already. Gimbels was a bad example because it actually has back variations. What about Standard Biscuit or Morehouse Baking? Is the cardstock the only way to tell with those?

Those two are extremely difficult to differentiate between m101-4 and m101-5 (I know they have their own “D” designations), especially Morehouse Baking. There are some slight toning differences in the card stock– the whiter stock is usually m101-4 and the more yellowed or creamy stock m101-5. This is particularly true on the card backs, where an almost golden color stock is often seen on the m101-5s for Standard Biscuit. That being said, the coloring falls along a spectrum and the differences can be very subtle. Also, I don’t recall there being noticeable distinctions in thickness or feel of the stock when the card is in hand. So, unless the card appears very white or very non-white, I generally hesitate to be conclusive. This one, for example, is probably m101-5 (technically D350-1-1) but I have no real heartburn calling it m101-4 either (D350-1-2):

[Leon]

Nice conversation, guys.
For some more perspective this is what Burdick had to say, in his 1967 reprint ACC edition. He called them Premium Cards, which I kind of like too.
Otherwise, he didn't have the information we have today.
.

[RayBShotz]

Bought this card at the Northeast Sportscard Expo yesterday and as I am prone to do, set out to research the set and stumbled across this great thread which certainly deserves a refresh.

I didn't see it talked about here but is there a consensus as to whether the M101-4 Sporting News Back is more rare than a Blank Back for this issue?

A quick view of cards available for sale on line would anecdotally indicate that Blank Back would seem more common. (Extremely small sample size).

Any expert thoughts on this? (Evidence to the contrary or to support?)

I am always humbled by the wealth of knowledge embedded in the N54 threads on the pre-war sets.
Thanks guys.
RayB

[Leon]

I am not an expert but have collected a lot of M101-4/5 backs over the last 25 yrs.
Almost by definition the blank backs are the most common, from my travels. They all started out with a blank back.

Originally Posted by RayBShotz

Bought this card at the Northeast Sportscard Expo yesterday and as I am prone to do, set out to research the set and stumbled across this great thread which certainly deserves a refresh.

I didn't see it talked about here but is there a consensus as to whether the M101-4 Sporting News Back is more rare than a Blank Back for this issue?

A quick view of cards available for sale on line would anecdotally indicate that Blank Back would seem more common. (Extremely small sample size).

Any expert thoughts on this? (Evidence to the contrary or to support?)

I am always humbled by the wealth of knowledge embedded in the N54 threads on the pre-war sets.
Thanks guys.
RayB

[timn1]

Yes, the blank backs are by far the most common in both sets. Sporting News backs are the most common printed backs in M101-4, as Famous & Barr in M101-5. But blank backs outnumber both by a wide margin. (It's difficult to say exactly because the grading companies dump TSN backs and blank back M101-4s into the same population in their pop reports.)

As has been stated many times, M101-5 numbers are entirely unconnected to Sporting News. M101-4 numbers with Famous-Barr backs are not common but are seen occasionally - primarily #s 1-20, where they are the only F&Bs known.

Tim