Has anyone ever seen something like this? '38 Goudey

[LACardsGuy]

Originally Posted by G1911

How was it determined this is an authentic original plate?

Like I mentioned, I dont know a thing and I do not believe the owner does either

[NiceDocter]

Would love to see a professional printer slap some ink on that baby and let’s see what prints out….. could help answer some questions….

[steve B]

It's halftone all over, which the cards weren't.

Likely a newspaper or magazine piece. although most of those would have moved on from typography by the time cards became interesting enough to print.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by steve B

It's halftone all over, which the cards weren't.

Likely a newspaper or magazine piece. although most of those would have moved on from typography by the time cards became interesting enough to print.

Agreed, I think it's a printing block for a small newspaper or could even be a hobby piece for a newsletter. In high school in the late eighties we had the tools to makes these on hand and I had some cool ones since lost. It was all fun and games until one kid created plates for twenties...that caused some issues.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Agreed, I think it's a printing block for a small newspaper or could even be a hobby piece for a newsletter. In high school in the late eighties we had the tools to makes these on hand and I had some cool ones since lost. It was all fun and games until one kid created plates for twenties...that caused some issues.

Who would have thunk it?

Yes, I am in agreement on printing block of some type. But I am not a print guy, per se'.
.

[JollyElm]

To play devil's advocate a bit here...

I have absolutely no clue what this is, but that questionable corner wear (with the obvious assumption that maybe the block was created from an actual old and worn card and isn't an original printing piece) could actually be naturally-occurring wear from the handling of whatever this item is over time.

There are a bunch of other dark areas on the faces and backgrounds where the surface has also been worn away/affected, so it's possibly 'normal.' Just think it's important to note this fact for the benefit of anyone who's investigating the piece.

[Leon]

No doubt the wear could be natural. In person, it would probably be easier to tell if it is contrived.

Originally Posted by JollyElm

To play devil's advocate a bit here...

I have absolutely no clue what this is, but that questionable corner wear (with the obvious assumption that maybe the block was created from an actual old and worn card and isn't an original printing piece) could actually be naturally-occurring wear from the handling of whatever this item is over time.

There are a bunch of other dark areas on the faces and backgrounds where the surface has also been worn away/affected, so it's possibly 'normal.' Just think it's important to note this fact for the benefit of anyone who's investigating the piece.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by steve B

It's halftone all over, which the cards weren't.

Likely a newspaper or magazine piece. although most of those would have moved on from typography by the time cards became interesting enough to print.

This. The original cards were not half-tones (like Exhibit cards), so this isn't one of those plates.

My guess is that it is a plate made to illustrate a newspaper obituary or other article for one of the players depicted. Probably a zinc plate made in the postwar era. Lots of them have come out of newspaper archives over the years. I remember a big auction of sports figure plates about a decade ago. I bought a bunch of boxers.