Earliest Collectibles of Baseball Hall of Famers

[Hankphenom]

Phil,
I think the Walter Johnson novelty cutlery postcard photo dates from the 1909 season, not 1907, when both the home and road caps were white. Unless it could be proven that one of the early cards (American Caramel, maybe?) pre-dated it, I would peg the earliest Johnson collectible as the 1908 Sporting Life premium. Is there a postcard of that, also?
Hank Thomas

[bcbgcbrcb]

Hank:

Thank you for your input regarding the earliest Walter Johnson baseball collectible. There has been a lot of speculation that the Novelty Cutlery postcards were issued during 1909 or possibly later as opposed to a 1907, 1908 or 1909 issue date. Kevin Struss, among others, has done extensive research on these and I believe that a stamp cancellation date earlier than 1910 has never been found.

I was not aware that Johnson appeared on the 1908 Washington W601 premium and have never seen one, but I will certainly defer to your knowledge of it. The only other possible 1908 issue for Johnson would be the Rose Company postcard, listed as a 1908-09 issue, not sure if a definitive year can be pinned down on that one.

At this point, I will replace the Novelty Cutlery postcard with the Washington W601. BTW no postcards were issued before or after the single release of 1906-07.

[Hankphenom]

Phil,
I actually owned the 1908 Sporting Life Washington team premium (W601) at one time, but sold it to a cousin some years ago. Curiously, the 1907 premium doesn't have Johnson but does picture Clyde Milan, who joined the team in mid-August, some three weeks AFTER Johnson had arrived from Idaho.
Hank

[bcbgcbrcb]

I know, Hank. I have seen the 1907 and looked for Johnson but he was missing.