Random Exhibit questions

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Assuming the figures quoted above are correct issue numbers (I am never convinced with ESCO offerings that we have seen all there is to find) 64 cards in 1921 indicates two full sheets of cards. 58 cards in 1922 indicates a two-sheet run that is short six cards. They either DP'd 6 cards or reprinted 6 1921's (or printed something else entirely). My bet would be on reprints of popular players from the 1921 set. I do note that some of the biggest names in 1921 can be found with and without borders. Perhaps this indicates a reprinting of those cards on a sheet with a different format in 1922? 74 in the 1923 group is 10 more than a full two sheets of cards.

Since none of the numbers add up after 1921, the most likely explanation is that the baseball cards followed the demonstrable pattern of the boxing cards: selected subjects were dropped and/or added from time to time throughout the 3 year period in order to round out full sheets. This would also neatly account for the relative scarcity of the 1923 set; it had a very limited run compared to the others.