The mystery of R315

[iwantitiwinit]

Are they really "strip cards" or were they actually sheet cards? Maybe originally they were from a sheet of 15 cards 5 across and 3 down and the strips you see just happen to depend on whether they were originally cut vertically or horizontally from the originating sheet.

[FrankWakefield]

I agree with the sheet comment...

Obviously, that is a horizontal strip and a vertical strip. That doesn't mean that B and D cards were printed in horizontal... although it would mean that B and D weren't printed in vertical strips only. Golly, sometimes when thinking about this stuff I feel like I'm in an old college logic class I once took. B and D's could be sheets, just as well as horizontal strips. What makes sense that all of the printing would have been the same way, instead of some vertical strips and some horizontal. I can envision that the cutting of the sheets might have varied... oops, I said it. Sheets. I think that is what was going on with these cards. Printed in sheets, distributed in strips, V's and H's.

[nolemmings]

I remember this panel when it was at auction--I shied away only because the top cut was just a bit too off center for my liking, and I had funds tied up elsewhere. I've always found a strange fascination with this set. Nice grab.

I noticed right away that the Ds were with the Bs, which I find surprising. I always thought the Cs and Ds were printed separately, as there only 6 players in those "series" and five of those are White Sox. I even wondered if they could properly be called R315s, but now it seems conclusive that they are indeed from that set.

I agree that these were cut from sheets, although they may also have been available in strips. Why the "R" designation? There must be some evidence somewhere that they were available with gum products? Obviously the "R" for recent fits, and just because they were (maybe) cut in strips doesn't mean they were available that way, or if they were, that R wouldn't apply (see R423).

Because I sort of collect this set, part of me says let's all examine this more closely, another says move along guys, nothing to see here. Good topic though.