That is a good question, because I happened to notice when making the scan that the debut year up in the upper right hand corner is my handwriting , its the way I used to ID autographs in my personal collection.
If I obtained it through the mail I would have placed the postmark on the reverse , and usually when a player was deceased I'd indicate that as well. I would always upgrade to a photo or document (if I could find one) so this must have been all I was able to find.
I recently obtained it as part of a large collection and someone after I had sold it has written the date of death on reverse. So I must have either sold it or upgraded it before he died.
Maybe someone else could shed some light on it but if I am not mistaken I think he was "among the missing" until the book came out. I'm curious if anyone has a copy of an old Jack Smalling address list and if his address is listed in there.
__________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com
Vintage autographs for sale
stinsonsports.com