Is it ever to good to be true?

[fkw]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

Bought a "1955 Exhibits Postcard Back" Mantle graded SGC Ex+ for just over $300 in a Huggins and Scott auction awhile back (all the pure investor types apparently passed it by because it wasn't at least Near Mint-Mint). The card bore the legend in the lower right corner, "Made in USA," which, from what I've gleaned from several different sites specializing in Exhibits (I collect them myself also), indicates the card was originally printed in 1951-1953. Perhaps it was reissued in 1955 from new old stock by the Exhibit Supply Company. PSA has graded just 8 1955 Exhibits Postcard Backs, none of which are Mantles.
The rarest rookie era Mantle??? Any of you Exhibits specialists out there have any info on the 1955 Postcard Backs?

Adam W may know for sure, but I think the Exhibits with the postcard back only came out in 1955. They are very tough for sure!
You cant use the "MADE IN USA", "Printed in USA" info to date them because there are older poses mixed in with the 1955 Era design cards, ie Feller "salutation", Pafko "salutation", etc. found in the postcard back set of 64 different. Even the Jackie Robinson card in the set has a "MADE IN USA" that points to 1948...but the postcard back points to 1955, the real years they are all from.

[Exhibitman]

My understanding is that the PC back only made it into one year of production in the mid-1950s. ESCo re-used images for years and years. The rookie season pic of Mantle appears throughout the 1950s. Check out this uncut sheet with a Rocky Colavito Detroit (where he was traded after the 1959 season) right next to a Salutation Ted Williams, and look at the Mantle bottom right. That sheet has to be a 1960 or later issue yet it still has the Mantle with the rookie year patch on the sleeve.

[ls7plus]

You will find that the 1939-1946 Salutations Exhibits bear the legend, "MADE IN USA." Various examples of the Williams "no No. 9" bear that legend, along with "Made in USA," PRINTED IN USA," and "Printed in USA," indicating it was indeed printed over and over again through at least 1960, Ted's last year as an active player. However, the much scarcer "No. 9 shows" pose will be found only with the "MADE IN USA" legend at the bottom. It is even possible, as Steve Verkman suggests, that the latter is a one-year only, 1939 rookie card. I have never seen a "No. 9 shows" in any tint other than brown, while all the "no No. 9" cards I have seen have had a gray tint. The 1939 Gehrig Exhibit cards I have seen, which is generally believed to be scarce due to having been pulled part way through the season after his fatal illness was announced (and it is indeed seen only about half as often, if that, as the "No. 9 shows" Williams) have always had a brown tint (as well of course as a "MADE IN USA" legend).
Mantle can be found with "Made in USA," PRINTED IN USA," and "Printed in USA." I also have an example of the latter, which I bought as a kid from a nearby penny arcade post 1957. It is generally believed that the legend "MADE IN USA" was limited to cards printed in the 1939-1946 era; "Made in USA" to the 1947-1953 era; "PRINTED IN USA" to 1954-1956; and "Printed in USA" to
1957-1966. Of course, the Exhibit Supply Co. may well have shipped cards from new old stock from time to time, so these various legends are not determinative of the time they would have actually left the company's hands. The fact that the [supposedly] 1955 Mantle postcard back card does indeed bear the legend "Made in USA" is thus consistent with it having been originally printed, if not released, from 1951-1953 (Mantle's first season with the Yanks was 1951; hence, this card cannot have been issued prior thereto).
I have personally seen scans of 1955 postcard back cards with either the "Made in USA" or PRINTED IN USA" legends, but the apparent fact that these appear to have been released only in 1955 does not in fact preclude those with the "Made in USA" logo from having been printed several years earlier. Thus, like it or not, this particular Mantle may well have originally printed in his 1951-1953 rookie "era."

[bbcard1]

In about 1990 I owned a baseball card shop. I guy brought in a box of generally crap...1980 Topps football, 81 donruss and such...and for no apparent reason there was a nice vg-ex-ex goudey Ruth in it (also a Clancy). Real deal. Go figure. It resides in my collection, paid the guy decently but still got a bargain.

[ls7plus]

Self-correction department:

It appears that I was in error with regard to the brown toned Exhibit cards, as these continued beyond 1939. Also, the use of the legend "MADE IN USA" continued through 1950, not 1947. However, the use of the logo "Made in USA" is in fact generally believed to be part of original printings in the 1951-1953 period, with, as stated, "PRINTED IN USA" used with 1954-1956 cards, and "Printed in USA" for 1957-1966 Exhibits.
My appologies.

Larry

[fkw]

Still tweeking the 1939-66 Exhibit info myself.

There are a few different types of "MADE IN USA", ....different widths.

1939-41..... 3/4" wide
1942-45..... 1/2" wide
1946.......... 9/16" wide
1947.......... back to 1/2" wide
1948.......... 5/8" wide
1949.......... "An Exhibit Card"
1950.......... 7/16" wide


the thing you will notice is cards said to be issued over many years really were only issued in skipped years.

In my short research...Williams no#9 is found with MADE IN USA of 9/16" wide (1946), and also Printed in USA with a B&W color (1960, like Adams sheet above), so really was printed in only 1946 and 1960. I dont know or have proof Williams was printed in any other style/year.
Ive only see Paige with the "AN EXHIBIT CARD" line so it was only printed in 1949. The Jackie Robinson Ive only seen with a 5/8" wide MADE IN USA so would be a 1948 issue only. The Kaline kneeling with script along bottom is only from 1954-56, DiMaggio brown tint is from 1946, B&W would be from 1952 only. etc.

Mantle...
Is there actually a Mantle "ck connected" with a blank back that has the "Made in USA" line? I did a search on eBay and only see cards with "Printed in USA", but there are a few scans where I couldnt read the USA line at all. From what I see the Mantle with the "c k not connected" is from the late 1950s, even though the picture shows Mickey in his 1951 uniform too.

[ls7plus]

Sorry guys, if I'm beating this thing to death. The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards also confirms my statement that the 1955 Exhibits Postcard Backs includes many cards that were "reissued" from previous years, as well as current 1955 cards. Thanks for your time and comments--I hope you guys are aware that by electronically pooling our knowledge in the blink of an eye, we're effectively taking the age of communication regarding hobby knowledge into a brand new era! Best wishes to everyone willing to contribute their time, knowledge and comments.

Larry

[ls7plus]

Postscript:

My notes, which were taken from discussions with various dealers at live shows over the years, as well as several different web sites, indicate that Frank W. is right on with regard to the variations in the "MADE IN USA" legend at the bottom of the Exhibits (I should have re-checked my notes earlier and thus avoided the misstatements I made with regard to 1947 being the last date Exhibits were issued bearing that legend). Apologies once again,

Larry