Please Help
 

I am trying to identify the origins of a Walter Johnson postcard sized card/photo/print I recently found which has become quite a mystery for me. The card measures 4.625" X 7", is sepia colored, and resembles some of the old exhibit cards I have seen before. It has a slightly chemical odor to it and has very small specs of silver/metal that show up when you position it in the light. The paper stock is fiborous and firm but thin enough so that the light/picture shines through it when you hold it up to the light but seems to have yellowed with age. "Walter Johnson" is written in white signiture style font on the front of the card. Judging from the uniform the original picture was taken between 1912-1915 and it is the same photo used in the 1973 Topps All Time Strikeout card and a 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Fame Commemortative card. I have only a couple examples of this photo on the internet and all but one include the name written in white on the front. None of the sources, however, include the origin. I know this card is part of a series because I have seen a Grover Alexander example as well with the name written in the same font on the front. The Alexander photo was taken in March 1922. The card has a blank back except for the words Abraham and Sons Jackson, Michigan typed (typewriter?) on the back upper left corner. I believe this stands for the S. Abraham and Sons candy/confectionary sugar company. Their website states that the company started in 1927 after WWI ended but I cannot find any information about a series of cards released by that company. The folks from Old Cardboard seem to think it is a recent release in the past 20-30 years but I really think it is older than that. Please help me.

definitely not period, looks pretty modern... I would go with OC's advice.

I would agree that it is a modern piece, not sure about the 20-30 year time frame, maybe as far back as the '70's or possibly earlier but I do not believe that it is a period item from the 1910's or 1920's.

The font looks similar or the same as the photos that you could order through sport magazine ads in the 1950s...you see these photos all the time and they are relatively cheap. I think your item might be one of those photos with the borders cut off.

The originals were 8x10, and this was definitely made from one of those.

Thanks for the very quick responses. I appreciate the information and it has been very helpful. This site is an amazing resource. I am surprised I haven't noticed more of these for sale on ebay.

Please let me know if anyone comes across another example of one of these... or an example of a player other than Grover Alexander or Walter Johnson. I am searching everywhere and cannot find any.

cguidi, you need to illuminate it with a black light and see if it fluoresces. I suspect it will. I agree with what's above. If it lights up it is certainly 'new', not vintage.

Depends on your definition of vintage...I think it dates to the 1950s, but surely is not from Walter Johnson's playing days.

going through some old posts as I havent been around for a while.

I have a few of these ca1948+ 2sided premiums (5"X8" exactly) with the same font, but these are not blank backed, they have a player on each side, all are machine cut exactly the same size and show age on edges.

besides the ones pictured below, there are 6 more ... Jackie Robinson/Dick Wakefield, Hartnett/Frisch, Dykes/Feller, TWilliams/Durocher, DDean/Hornsby, WJohnson/HWilson

I have never seen others or dups

http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1948unkalexander.jpg
http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1948unkcobb.jpg
http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1948unkvance.jpg
http://centuryoldcards.com/images/1948unkpaige.jpg