"Confusion" only to those unfamiliar with the production of this set of cards, Peter.
In 1981, I was doing research for my article in BASEBALL Cards Magazine regarding 1949 BOWMAN vs 1949 LEAF sets. I interviewed former senior employees of both of these
Gum Co. The LEAF employee was involved in the original production of these cards. She told me that the majority of the Rights to the images and the bios of the players were
obtained during 1948 (hence 1948 Copyright). And, the remaining players were obtained in early 1949 (hence 1949 Copyright).
I very well recall as a kid that the LEAF cards were available in March - April 1949 in my neighborhood in Hillside, NJ. I have compared this date with other veteran collectors in
the hobby, and they concur with this release date (collectors from St Louis to Boston).
I have never, ever met anyone who said they acquired these cards in 1948.
We were all too busy collecting 1948 LEAF Football cards. Their Hi # series was issued circa December 1948.
TED Z
T206 Reference
.