Show An Unusual Vintage Card - 1950s and Earlier

[Leon]

Opening this thread to 1950s, as well as pre-WWII, to include a whole treasure trove of unusal cards we don't normally see.

I might have shown this before, but it's a postally used 1952 Mathews - Boston National League Baseball Club, Boston Inc "card". Approximately 6x8. I assume this is his real auto but not sure. I only attained it for it's unusual nature, not the auto.

[packs]

Couple of railroad tickets I've picked up over the years:

[CobbSpikedMe]

Always though these were unusual.


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[Jay Wolt]

[GeoPoto]

Gotta keep the dogs happy.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

[NiceDocter]

Not valuable but unusual

[NiceDocter]

Bought it in Ohio 40 years ago. Hey it’s a “Bowman” lol

[Exhibitman]

[ValKehl]

1948-50 Safe-T-Cards, the earliest known safety issue:

[aconte]

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by packs

Couple of railroad tickets I've picked up over the years

Those are neat

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

Bought it in Ohio 40 years ago. Hey it’s a “Bowman” lol

This is great!!

[danmckee]

Here is a toughie: J=K Candy 1912

JK-Wagner.jpg

[JLange]

The item on the left is a 1959 Kits Mfg plaque of Rocky Colavito, unopened. You can tell if you look closely that the plaque consists of an ornate frame and an inserted card, pre-packaged together. The item on the right is a different version Rocky Colavito card insert, acquired separately. It’s blank backed.

What on earth possessed them to make an alternate card insert? You can argue that the card on the right doesn’t look sufficiently like Rocky, and someone ordered a “do-over,” but that’s just strange in my book. There is a version card of Tito Francona with stamping on the back as a business card, so it is found without a frame, but his pic is identical to his plaque.

One of the many hobby mysteries that occupy my mind.

[brianp-beme]

Here is a possibly legit strip card that appears to have a relation to both the 1923 German transfer cards and the W515-2 set. As seen in the 'not mine' strip of 5, these claim to be made in Germany, and appear to have utilized modified images seen in the W515 sets. I have shown examples of these same W515-1 cards as seen in the Made in Germany strip, though I believe the larger image size W515-2 cards are a closer match. Also for comparison is an associated sheet of the 1923 German transfers, its bottom row including Cobb and Shawkey, players included in the strip shown.

Brian

[danmckee]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Here is a possibly legit strip card that appears to have a relation to both the 1923 German transfer cards and the W515-2 set. As seen in the 'not mine' strip of 5, these claim to be made in Germany, and appear to have utilized modified images seen in the W515 sets. I have shown examples of these same W515-1 cards as seen in the Made in Germany strip, though I believe the larger image size W515-2 cards are a closer match. Also for comparison is an associated sheet of the 1923 German transfers, its bottom row including Cobb and Shawkey, players included in the strip shown.

Brian

I own that German Strip, it is killer!

[perezfan]

Here's one that's always struck me as unusual...

The 1951 Bowman set is chalked full of beautiful images... like little works of art, or miniature paintings. Here's one such example...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37549890915...Bk9SR9zEjMqJZA

But one card in the set stands out like a sore thumb. Can anyone explain this anomaly...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13511004659...Bk9SR8y4_8mJZA

I'm thinking Paul may have had an enemy or two over at Bowman HQ.

[Johnny T]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here's one that's always struck me as unusual...

The 1951 Bowman set is chalked full of beautiful images... like little works of art, or miniature paintings. Here's one such example...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37549890915...Bk9SR9zEjMqJZA

But one card in the set stands out like a sore thumb. Can anyone explain this anomaly...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13511004659...Bk9SR8y4_8mJZA

I'm thinking Paul may have had an enemy or two over at Bowman HQ.

Don't quote me on this, but I was always under the impression that Richards was a prankster and a bit of a comic. I don't know if he skipped out on the photo session and left them in a bit of a pickle or not, and the result was that comical card...or what...but I did read about that card before...guess I really didn't answer your question...lol

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by danmckee

I own that German Strip, it is killer!

Nice Dan!


Brian

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by danmckee

I own that German Strip, it is killer!

That is an awesome strip, Dan! Have you ever seen another?



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[edjs]

Here’s some not often found.Sorry for the bad image on the Morley Studio cards, I haven’t scanned them yet.

[V117collector]

Don't see these cards to often glad to pick this one up!

[edjs]

Originally Posted by V117collector

Don't see these cards to often glad to pick this one up!

Ooooh. I like it. 👍

[aljurgela]

you do not see this one that often (or ever really)

[Vintagedeputy]

One of my favorite unusual cards.

[packs]

This card is from the 1958 Dominican Winter League and slightly past the 1950 date, but I hope you can indulge me. I don't know who issued this card of Matty Alou, but Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal also played on this team and could theoretically have cards too:

[Leon]

1927 Ruthian..

[calvindog]

[h2oya311]

Incredible stuff boys! Leon - I had never seen that Mathews postcard before. Very cool! And Al, thanks for reminding me of the Aparicio “rookie” card I never could get from you!

Here’s my minor contribution…I’ve never seen another example:

[Al C.risafulli]

I love that Pittsburg Leader piece, Jeff.

-Al

[Hankphenom]

Amazing thread. You guys are really bringing it!

[triwak]

A few more weird ones.

[conor912]

LOVE this thread! This is the kind of stuff I wish I saw at shows. The row after row of Topps cards is starting to make me want to claw my eyes out.

[brianp-beme]

This is a Joe "Ducky" Medwick Big Leaguer Baseball Game card from the late 1930's.

This example is not mine, but I do have one, and it is one of those incredibly rare instances that my example is nicer than what is shown.

Brian

[Leon]

always a fan fave....

[UKCardGuy]

1938 Dizzy Dean Service Station card issued to promoted his service station in Florida. PSA and SGC have only graded 3 of them each.

[whiteymet]

late 40's Phillies Rapid Electrotype

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Leon

always a fan fave....

Awesome. Such dainty gentlemen.

[Jobu]

Still not sure what this one is.

[Leon]

1936 Kroger Bread card...

[Shankweather]

[packs]

I've had this one for a while too. Julia St. Clair played for several semi-pro women's teams in the 1910s including the Bloomer Girls and the All American Girls. I know there's at least one other one out there in the world, but I've never been able to tell how it was distributed or where:

[Zach Wheat]

1930-32 Fleer Whiz Bang

[Leon]

Shown before, but most collectors would have no clue what these are.

[Jobu]

That includes me!!!

Originally Posted by Leon

Shown before, but most collectors would have no clue what these are.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by Jobu

That includes me!!!

Ditto!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

Ditto!

Before I say, we can see if anyone else knows? I am sure some do...

and another unusual card.

[Brian Van Horn]

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[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Leon

Before I say, we can see if anyone else knows? I am sure some do...

Unfortunately I cannot recall the name of this set, and don't want to get all clever and look it up online, but it basically uses the same photos and text/format as the 1936 S & S Game cards, just without all that unnecessary extra cardboard on the sides. Is "Home Run" part of its set name?

Brian

[Brian Van Horn]

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