Educate Me On The 1869 Red Stockings Card

[sandmountainslim]

Educate me on the famous Cinci Card.
I have read all I can find online about it and know Leon has one of the cards.
Was it offered only to customers of the store which produced it? How many theoretically survive? Is it far more rare than the Plank or Wagner T206 cards? I have seen images of it in Red ink and Black ink which is the most "common"? Also what were the sizes of these cards.
Very interested in it's history and I made my own personal reprint (clearly marked and for my personal use) of it from an image I found online. I would just like to know more about the card's production and history.

[barrysloate]

There's a Peck and Snyder version of the image that was sold in the famous sporting goods store, although I imagine good customers who spent a lot of money would have gotten them for free. There is also a Cdv version of it, and we are not exactly sure how these were distributed. Since the 1869 Reds were by far the most popular team of the era, it's safe to assume a fairly large number of them were printed. Quite a few survive today, probably at least 25 are known in various styles.

[sandmountainslim]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

There's a Peck and Snyder version of the image that was sold in the famous sporting goods store, although I imagine good customers who spent a lot of money would have gotten them for free. There is also a Cdv version of it, and we are not exactly sure how these were distributed. Since the 1869 Reds were by far the most popular team of the era, it's safe to assume a fairly large number of them were printed. Quite a few survive today, probably at least 25 are known in various styles.

Thanks Barry. I had wondered about the distribution of the card. 25 is FAR more than I had expected existed!

[barrysloate]

The number 25 is just a guess but I bet it isn't too far off. I've probably seen at least 15 different over the years and I don't claim to have seen them all.

And there are at least four different known Peck and Snyders: 1) black with a sporting goods ad on the back; 2) red with the same ad (and it is a hair smaller); 3) black with an ice skating ad; and 4) CdV with P & S advertising on it. And there is a CdV that advertises Henry Chadwick's book, as well as those those with the team roster printed on the reverse; and there are some that are blank backed. So clearly it was very popular as it went through numerous printings.

[oldjudge]

The CdV that Barry mentions with the ad for Chadwick's book on the back is the only Cincinnati that can clearly be dated as it was for Chadwick's 1869 guide. As such, it is the most desireable of all the CdVs. The other CdVs and trade cards could have been issued contemporaneously or at a later time.

[GaryPassamonte]

Regardless of the style, trade card or CdV, given its rarity and the significance of the subject, I believe the 1869 Cincinnati cards to be among the most underpriced of all baseball related cards. Any opinions? Also, if the 1869 Cincinnati card is not the most historically significant card, which card is?