Awesome Early Jackie Robinson PC, Hilarious Ebay Description

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by dbrown

It's a weird one — that EKC stamp box is period-correct but I have never seen a RPPC with a texture on its front surface.

HOWEVER, there is a nearly identical example that sold at Hunt in July 2023 ($25K), with the same texture and same EKC back. I'm going with "real."

https://huntauctions.com/live/imagev...m=25&lot_qual=

I double checked and "linen" (I keep putting that in quotes because that is what they are called in postcard circles, but they are not acutally linen of course) postcards can NOT be RPPC's. I didn't think so but had to look it up to be sure. There's no way to develop a photo on that stock. They are normal printed postcards.

That doesn't mean it's not crazy rare and valuable, but it ain't a photo of any kind. I ascribe a ton of that value to the beautiful signature. Then add in that it's on a rare "pre-rookie" postcard and voila.

I also find it hilarious that someone put it into that photo frame from Lebanon, PA. What earthly sense that makes is beyond me.

[dbrown]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I double checked and "linen" (I keep putting that in quotes because that is what they are called in postcard circles, but they are not acutally linen of course) postcards can NOT be RPPC's. I didn't think so but had to look it up to be sure. There's no way to develop a photo on that stock. They are normal printed postcards.

That's all true, but these Robinson examples are not linen postcards.

This postcard has a texture, but it is not the texture of linen postcards, which have a cross-hatched or 'woven' texture, which gives them their name.

There are plenty of examples of photo papers that have a surface texture -- I'm thinking of 1970s color snapshots as an easy example for the over-50 set -- but I had not seen a RPPC with a texture like this before today. That authenticated example that sold in Hunt along with this one make a pretty good argument that they exist.

EKC photo postcard stock was a Kodak product. (EKC = Eastman Kodak Company). Any postcard on EKC stock is a photographic print.


David

[Jobu]

+1.

George Burke printed lots of photos with a matte finish that were real photos and had this texture. Here is my Dizzy Dean. The Dean, and many Burkes, is 4" x 6" and printed on cardstock like postcards - I see no reason why EKC couldn't have had this product line. In fact, when I first saw this I immediately wondered if this might be a Burke image.

Originally Posted by dbrown

That's all true, but these Robinson examples are not linen postcards.

This postcard has a texture, but it is not the texture of linen postcards, which have a cross-hatched or 'woven' texture, which gives them their name.

There are plenty of examples of photo papers that have a surface texture -- I'm thinking of 1970s color snapshots as an easy example for the over-50 set -- but I had not seen a RPPC with a texture like this before today. That authenticated example that sold in Hunt along with this one make a pretty good argument that they exist.

EKC photo postcard stock was a Kodak product. (EKC = Eastman Kodak Company). Any postcard on EKC stock is a photographic print.


David

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Jobu

+1.

George Burke printed lots of photos with a matte finish that were real photos and had this texture. Here is my Dizzy Dean. The Dean, and many Burkes, is 4" x 6" and printed on cardstock like postcards - I see no reason why EKC couldn't have had this product line. In fact, when I first saw this I immediately wondered if this might be a Burke image.

If you are saying your Dean and the posted Jackie on ebay and in Hunt are on the same paper then I am stumped.

[Exhibitman]

The texture does not preclude a photograph. I've sold photos with a similar texture from as far back as the 1920s. Now that said, this is a far from ideal situation and we could be seeing some scanner artifacts.

[JustinD]

As mentioned prior, a similar postcard has been sold a few times over the past few years, for much less than a billion. It has similar texture and the personalization could be read that this was an item Jackie would mail autograph seekers and fans. This seems to be real to me as well. Now without seeing a postally used example with a cancel it’s still up to the buyer to believe date of production, but there is decent chance Jackie was possibly the source or just simply mailing back a submission. That Eastman Kodak stamp box is supposedly used from 1930-1950, so it would fit the window. I am not even slightly able to date Jackie Robinson signature styles over the years, maybe someone can see a difference if this signature was early or later in career.

https://lelands.com/bids/circa-1946-...o-postcard-jsa

https://huntauctions.com/live/imagev...m=25&lot_qual=

Interestingly, Leland’s has also sold the negative for this photo in the past as well -
https://lelands.com/bids/1946-jackie...-negative--2x3

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Good old grandpa.

[Fred]

So where is the perceived value? Is it the Montreal picture? Is it the autograph? Is it because people want to believe it was signed the year he was playing for Montreal (pre-MLB)? If it's because it's supposed to have been signed pre 1947, then how would anybody know that.

Me, I'm a sucker, I think it's probably real, but that signature should be compared to how he signed at different points in his career.

I haven't seen a PC with that texture, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is a period piece.

That's one thing about this hobby, so much suspicion, and rightfully so these days (not that things like this didn't happen in the pre-investment days of the hobby).

[brunswickreeves]

I’d put the value at….