Colgan Chips: Tin Tops (E270-2) -- proper dating

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Posted By: Marc S.

This topic is posted on behalf of a collecting friend who is a lurker here (although I'll take full responsibility for the post)

I'm curious what people believe the proper dating is of the Colgan's Tip Tops (E270-2). I think 1912 has been the common concensus for awhile, but I wonder/question whether or not the Skydash Collection find should cause us to re-evaluate this consideration.

As a note to sloppiness on behalf of SGC, they have labelled the SGC 92 example in the Mastro auction as being from "1909-1911". Only the E254s date from this period, and clearly this is an E270-2, not a E254. Secondly, Thorpe did not begin playing until 1913. For a card with a minimum bid of $10,000, I'm a bit disappointed that SGC would make such a sloppy mistake.

Additionally, the Chance is listed as New York, Am. and the Tinker is listed as Cincinnati. In 1912, both of these players were still with the Cubs. Tinker was not traded until December 15, 1912 and Chance was not picked up off of waivers until December 11, 1912.

Therefore, I think one can only conclude that these were either issued in 1913, or from 1912-1913, as the examples pointed out above could have only been issued in 1913.

I would very much appreciate any thoughts here from the advanced collectors who have likely studied this issue and others for much longer than I have. I'm just a student of the hobby, and I know that y'all here probbaly have something to teach me.

Cheers,
Marc