1960 Fleer Set

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

What an accomplishment, congratulations! Are those cards you're looking for considered near-impossible enough to be outside the realm of possibility?

Ive only seen Melillo once but he did have a year or two. Same with the Sisler Traynor. Never seen the Cobb/Baker/Wheat signed by all. I have one signed by Wheat and a post stroke Baker. Just always loved those sets.

[theshleps]

Opinion?
1960 Fleer #41 Baker JSA.jpg

[theshleps]

and how bout this. Opinions greatly appreciated
1960 Fleer #41 Baker JSA (2).jpg

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I have exponentially more confidence in both of those. Is there a reason the bottom one isn't in a slab? It appears like a casebook pre-stroke Baker to me, signed with all the confidence in the world. I'd love to know what we're not being told!

What we have to also keep in mind is the extremely narrow window wherein Baker could have signed this card with a healthy hand.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Another thing to always consider:

Flat calligraphy nib practically always = Coach's Corner-caliber forgery.

Go back and look at your dyed-in-the-wool authentic vintage fountain pen pieces. Heck, you can do it from memory. How many of them were signed using such an implement? My guess is none.

This type of fountain pen simply was not in popular use back then. For fun, let's pick a name from the fountain pen era who signed everything put in front of him. Say, Charlie Gehringer. OK, now how many examples have you encountered that were signed with a flathead calligraphy nib? For me, it has to be zero, and the number of fountain pen signatures I've handled, studied or examined has to total hundreds of thousands.

Those types of pens were always the cheapest and most readily available to find in the 80's and 90's at stationery shops. Usually in a calligraphy kit. As a rule of thumb, forgers are cheap. These pens were cheap. 1 + 1 = 2.

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Another thing to always consider:

Flat calligraphy nib practically always = Coach's Corner-caliber forgery.

Go back and look at your dyed-in-the-wool authentic vintage fountain pen pieces. Heck, you can do it from memory. How many of them were signed using such an implement? My guess is none.

This type of fountain pen simply was not in popular use back then. For fun, let's pick a name from the fountain pen era who signed everything put in front of him. Say, Charlie Gehringer. OK, now how many examples have you encountered that were signed with a flathead calligraphy nib? For me, it has to be zero, and the number of fountain pen signatures I've handled, studied or examined has to total hundreds of thousands.

Those types of pens were always the cheapest and most readily available to find in the 80's and 90's at stationery shops. Usually in a calligraphy kit. As a rule of thumb, forgers are cheap. These pens were cheap. 1 + 1 = 2.

Thanks Billy- I appreciate your expertise. The PSA slabbed Baker I look at as being a felt tip pen (maybe I am wrong). Those were introduced in 1955 according to google. I remember writing to guys in the late 1960s and I do believe some signed with that type pen. My memory could be faulty. Maybe others could chime in

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

While I don't have it in hand like you do, I did access clearer pics from the auction listing. Again, just based on the photos, I'll stick with flat-tip calligraphy fountain pen.

Sharpies were introduced in 1964. Yes, there were some sort of felt tips that pre-dated the Sharpie, but you practically never see anything signed with them. I know I've seen a couple, but that's literally it. Can't even recall who signed, but want to say they were Hollywood autographs. I assuredly would have retained scans, though, due to those pieces being a very interesting piece of this puzzle we all love.

We are getting a bit off course here, but there has been a lot of collector discussion as to when the blue Sharpie was introduced (or any non-black). There were various coloured felt tip markers going back to the early 60's. I've seen a Branch Rickey (D. 1965) in blue felt tip. If it wasn't actual Sharpie brand, it mirrored the results. I was knocked off my feel when I saw it, just because it's one of those things you didn't expect to exist, yet there it was.

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I have exponentially more confidence in both of those. Is there a reason the bottom one isn't in a slab? It appears like a casebook pre-stroke Baker to me, signed with all the confidence in the world. I'd love to know what we're not being told!

What we have to also keep in mind is the extremely narrow window wherein Baker could have signed this card with a healthy hand.

Billy I realized I never answered you. Sorry. Both those unslabbed ones have full JSA. I'm going to pt the shakier on for sale. If anyone here isn't interested it will go to REA