T206 Wagner proof strip now in Philly...

[tedzan]

FYI....this so-called strip is blank-backed.

Upon magnification, you will find that the vertical lines between the cards are actually seams.

Regarding your...." nobody cared much about these cards in 1909, so why, in 1909, would anyone bother
to attach them to a sheet with the precision of an accomplished card doctor? "

This is a very naive comment, there is tons of documentation that tells us how popular these cards were
when they were initially available in 1909. Especially, the major stars of that era (Cobb, Johnson, Lajoie,
Matty, Wagner, CYoung, etc).

And, to the 2nd part of your comment....It didn't require a "card doctor" to craft this strip. The employees
at American Lithograph were high quality craftsman.
It is rumored that this 5-card strip was specifically crafted as a sample piece given to Wagner prior to the
T206 market launch.

Anyhow, I will be traveling down to Citizens Bank Park to catch a Phillies game and get a close up look at
this piece.


TED Z

[M's_Fan]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Regarding your...." nobody cared much about these cards in 1909, so why, in 1909, would anyone bother
to attach them to a sheet with the precision of an accomplished card doctor? "

This is a very naive comment, there is tons of documentation that tells us how popular these cards were
when they were initially available in 1909. Especially, the major stars of that era (Cobb, Johnson, Lajoie,
Matty, Wagner, CYoung, etc).

TED Z

I should have phrased my comment better, the cards were popular, but certainly not considered valuable back in 1909-1911. Many people threw the cards away, many gave the cards to kids (who would beg for them outside tobacco shops). So the cards were popular (especially with kids), yes, but not valuable enough for someone to go to the great lengths of creating a fake strip card in hopes of monetary gain. I admit that this is just my opinion, its always possible that someone did that, I'm just saying it seems highly unlikely to me.

Originally Posted by tedzan

And, to the 2nd part of your comment....It didn't require a "card doctor" to craft this strip. The employees
at American Lithograph were high quality craftsman.
It is rumored that this 5-card strip was specifically crafted as a sample piece given to Wagner prior to the T206 market launch.

This is possible, but it seems highly unlikely to me that someone would go to the trouble of making a strip card and hiding the seams. Even if you have the skill to do this, why would you? Wagner won't care if there are seems on his sample. And why even bother to cut cards and then make a strip for Wagner? Why not just easily paste them on a sheet of paper side by side? It just doesn't add up to me that someone would go to this effort, there seems to me no reason to do so. But maybe there is a reason they did it that we don't know of.

Originally Posted by tedzan

Anyhow, I will be traveling down to Citizens Bank Park to catch a Phillies game and get a close up look at
this piece.

TED Z

Let us know how it looks in person, wish I could take a look at this curious piece!

[canjond]

Ted- I've seen the card in person, too, and not sure I can agree with you on this one... at least to the point it is pasted together. What I recall, and what is somewhat evident in the scan, is that the crosshairs on the cards side stretch into each other, overlap, and I believe one is double struck. In order for the pasting theory to hold water, the cards would have needed to be pasted together, then re-run through the printing process in order to get the cross hairs to line up perfectly and overlap each other. Individually printed cards would not create this same effect. Again, while I could see it would be plausible to get all of the crosshairs to line up if cards were individually printed and then pasted together, it would be impossible to get the overlapping crosshairs unless they were printed after the cards were reattached.

[camlov2]

I have never seen the piece in person, however there are a few things that stand out to me-
It seems like there is chipping between the Bowerman and Young cards (upper half) right along where the two cards would come together. The crease to the right of the Young card also seems to follow perfectly where the two cards would meet. I would guess seperate cards due to those two items and the difference in colors.

unrelated question- Why does it appear if there are lighter circles underneath all of the printers marks?

[ScottFandango]

Originally Posted by tedzan

FYI....this so-called strip is blank-backed.

Upon magnification, you will find that the vertical lines between the cards are actually seams.

Regarding your...." nobody cared much about these cards in 1909, so why, in 1909, would anyone bother
to attach them to a sheet with the precision of an accomplished card doctor? "

This is a very naive comment, there is tons of documentation that tells us how popular these cards were
when they were initially available in 1909. Especially, the major stars of that era (Cobb, Johnson, Lajoie,
Matty, Wagner, CYoung, etc).

And, to the 2nd part of your comment....It didn't require a "card doctor" to craft this strip. The employees
at American Lithograph were high quality craftsman.
It is rumored that this 5-card strip was specifically crafted as a sample piece given to Wagner prior to the
T206 market launch.

Anyhow, I will be traveling down to Citizens Bank Park to catch a Phillies game and get a close up look at
this piece.
TED Z

i love how me and Ted think alike!

this is what i believe the majority of "blank back" cards to be....SAMPLES that Amer Litho employees would use to sell the art to different companies...



TED Z[/QUOTE]

[Cardboard Junkie]

I just plowed through this whole thread......so it's not vertical seams?
Not separate cards "pasted" together?
Actually a "proof" strip?

Cool.

[atx840]

One of my favourite T206 pieces...hope to finish and have it litho printed one day. Recreated using original portraits.

[ScottFandango]

Originally Posted by atx840

One of my favourite T206 pieces...hope to finish and have it litho printed one day. Recreated using original portraits.

Just made this my background on my PC....thank you

[Rob D.]

I would strongly recommend that Net54 newcomers take 15-20 minutes and read this thread from the beginning. It's pretty enlightening, and not just about the T206 Wagner strip.

[ZenPop]

Just got done reading this whole thing... pretty cool detective story from the beginning to present...

This reminds me that when I was driving through Pittsburgh a few years ago, I stopped at a small antique store and the owner, who's last name eludes me, showed me a strip just like this one... but the strip was was in much better shape and extended to include Plank on one side and the Doyle error card on the other. This was the real deal, so I ask held my breath and asked how much... Imagine my surprise when he just handed it to me... I've kept this strip to myself all this time, but I just sent it over to PSA to... nah... just kidding.

Seriously, though... excellent thread. And much thanks to the participants for the illuminating discussion!

[g_vezina_c55]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

I would strongly recommend that Net54 newcomers take 15-20 minutes and read this thread from the beginning. It's pretty enlightening, and not just about the T206 Wagner strip.

Just read the thread from the begining and i also recommend newcomers to take time to read it completely.

Verry cool thread.