W516 copyright observation

[brianp-beme]

First a little background information. These cards, which were issued in strips of 10, and classified as a group as W516, are actually divided into 5 different sets, based upon card numbers, hand/typeset lettering, and normal/reversed images. They are designated in this fashion as follows:

W516-1-1 Hand lettering, normal image

W516-1-2 Hand lettering, reversed image, numbering same as W516-1-1

W516-2-1 Typeset, reversed image, numbering reversed from W516-1 sets above in groups of 10 (1-10, 11-20, 21-30). For example #1 Babe Ruth in the W516-1-1 and W516-1-2 sets is #10, #2 Heinie Groh is #9, #13 Larry Doyle is #18, #24 Christy Mathewson is #27, etc.

W516-2-2 Hand lettering, reverse image, numbering same as W516-2-1

W516-2-3 Typeset, normal image, numbering same as W516-1-1


And now to the revelation. Typically the copyright for all these sets (in guide books, lot listings, etc.) has been identified as 'IFS', which stands for International Feature Services. On rare occasions I have seen 'IFC' (not positive what C stands for...Company? Corporation?) mentioned. Indeed I have noticed throughout the years that some W516 cards could be found with an 'IFC' copyright instead. What I just figured out, after years of scientific research and countless gobs of funds thrown into this intellectual pursuit, is that in all 5 sets it appears that cards numbered 1 through 10 have the 'IFC' copyright, while cards numbering 11 through 30 have the 'IFS' copyright.

I am not sure what the meaning of all of this is, just thought I had to share this breakthrough in W516 copyright info. Let us know if you have any information that adds to what I have outlined, or even if it blows up my whole IFS/IFC conspiracy theory. Please use this information wisely, and ideally for good and not evil purposes.

Brian (a couple of example W516-1-1 cards showing both the IFC (note that it is card #10) and IFS (card #13) copyrights are included for visual reference to help enlighten folks on what the heck I have been detailing above.

[christopher.herman]

Mine. NFS. Ever.

[toppcat]

I looked up International Features Syndicate in my copy of American Newspaper Comics (which has a fairly long and useful syndicator section) and for IFS it states:

"Created in 1906 by Hearst, took over features of Hearst Syndicate in 1909. Managed by Richard Farrelly. Was gradually dropped as the copyright of most features by the mid-1930's. Also known as International News Service."

At a guess, IFS could have treated the W516's as cartoons and that may be an avenue to explore but like you I cannot find anything on IFC. I do note Farrelly was eventually done wrong by Hearst. Maybe you can find some more info with these little bits o'detail.

[Hankphenom]

I wonder if the photos used in the cards came from those syndicates, and that's what the copyrights are for.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Nice Brian. Very cool. I only collect W516-1-1 with Becker/Prize backs and they are all from the 11-20 strip. I have 8 so far with one dupe (so 7 different). If anyone has one of these and is willing to sell or trade one that I don't have for my dupe please PM me.

These all follow your theory as they all have IFS as the copyright.

.

[Clutch-Hitter]

W516-1-3: …universal baseball… lettering (not distinguished like w515)

Example:
W515-1: standard card
W515-2: …little wonder picture series… lettering

W516-1-1: cards 1-10 can be found printed on either brown paper or the better quality white e121 type paper on which w516-1-2 is printed.

Most common: w516-1-1 and w516-2-2
Least common: w516-1-2 and w516-2-3.

Haven’t done anything w516 lately but I have several and believe my memory may be right. Not at my computer to post scans.

Great topic. I love strip cards

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Clutch-Hitter

W516-1-3: …universal baseball… lettering (not distinguished like w515)

Example:
W515-1: standard card
W515-2: …little wonder picture series… lettering

W516-1-1: cards 1-10 can be found printed on either brown paper or the better quality white e121 type paper on which w516-1-2 is printed.

Most common: w516-1-1 and w516-2-2
Least common: w516-1-2 and w516-2-3.

Haven’t done anything w516 lately but I have several and believe my memory may be right. Not at my computer to post scans.

Great topic. I love strip cards

Thanks Greg...I didn't realize that a 6th type (W516-1-3) had been recognized. I have one of the "Universal Baseball" cards...so I guess I still have a type set of all W516 issues.

Also interesting to hear that the two types of W516-1-1 (brown AND white paper) are just available for #1-10.

And despite my inaccurate comment on my original post that I have spent years researching these cards, your most common and least common cards lists seem to line up with what I have noticed, with a nod from me to W516-2-1 being right behind W516-2-2 in its availability.

Brian

[edhans]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Nice Brian. Very cool. I only collect W516-1-1 with Becker/Prize backs and they are all from the 11-20 strip.
.

Andy, We've got to get together some day to try see how much of a strip we can reassemble. I'm up to 25 of these, but still have never laid eyes on a Ring or a Kauf.

I also was not aware of the -3 designation. I have always supposed that the caption was only above the top row of the sheet. I can't recall a miscut (very common for strip cards) where it appears below the picture.

[cubman1941]

My W516-2-2.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Nice Brian. Very cool. I only collect W516-1-1 with Becker/Prize backs and they are all from the 11-20 strip. I have 8 so far with one dupe (so 7 different). If anyone has one of these and is willing to sell or trade one that I don't have for my dupe please PM me.

These all follow your theory as they all have IFS as the copyright.

Andy, We've got to get together some day to try see how much of a strip we can reassemble. I'm up to 25 of these, but still have never laid eyes on a Ring or a Kauf. (quoted what Ed wrote above)


Hi Andy and Ed...nice auxiliary collections of these Becker Prize cards. Being the type of collector I am, I have one of these as well (Doyle). Sorry that it doesn't match up to either of your needs.

Brian

[brianp-beme]

...And it appears that three of the Becker Prize cards that Andy showed would be considered W516-1-3, according to Greg's information he shared.

Brian

[bn2cardz]

My contribution to the thread

1921 w516-2-1 Uncut Strip- Milan-Mathewson-Collins-Gowdy with IFS