The concept of a non-sports "rookie card"

[Exhibitman]

The problem is that defining a rookie card outside sport involves a variety of cards and card adjacent items from all over the place. Often the earliest card will be a postcard or a promo card. For example, the earliest Marx Brothers card I know of is the vaudeville Exhibit card from 1926.



For recording artists the earliest card is usually a promo item from the label.




Or a studio card for an actor:



That’s all logistics. Where I think it goes too far is RC on a fictional character. Umm, no. They don’t exist.

[nsaddict]

Thanks for creating this post. I’m heavy into non-sports. I firmly believe in “first card”. The notion of a Ulysses Grant rookie bugs the shit out of me. Some eBay seller was offering a 1932 Caramel Washington “rookie”. George actually has cards about 50 years prior. IMO, it has trickled down from sports cards as non-sport has gained traction in the last several years. 1964 MLK first card.

[Peter_Spaeth]

1901 Winston Churchill. 1935 Queen Elizabeth. 1961 JFK.

[Peter_Spaeth]

1952 Chagall, Matisse, Picasso.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

1901 Winston Churchill. 1935 Queen Elizabeth. 1961 JFK.

Would any royalty have two?
One as prince/princess and a second as King/queen?

Or would that be treated more like a draft pick card or minor league card?

Oh the possibilities.

[Exhibitman]

If fictional characters can have RCs, how about inanimate objects?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by steve B

Would any royalty have two?
One as prince/princess and a second as King/queen?

Or would that be treated more like a draft pick card or minor league card?

Oh the possibilities.

LOL. Here is her first as Queen in any event. 1952.

[Peter_Spaeth]

1964 Beatles. 1968 Doors. 1970 Led Zeppelin.

[Exhibitman]

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

1964 Beatles. 1968 Doors. 1970 Led Zeppelin.

I never really looked to see what cards were produced during Jim Morrison's lifetime. I know Jimi Hendrix has several options from before his death. What about Janis Joplin? I could only find a 1975 Panini as her earliest card when looking her up a while back, but I would have thought she would have something earlier.

Peter, do you know if the 1975 Panini is Joplin's first card, five years after she died?

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

LOL. Here is her first as Queen in any event. 1952.

Now.... can a "rookie card" be local?
Like say Ichiro. He would have a Japanese rookie card and a US rookie card.

The Queen was queen for a variety of semi independent countries.
So a Wales rookie, a Scotland rookie....depending on where the card was issued. There are probably ones where there is no locally issued card.

[steve B]

And yes, I'm a _ trouble maker at times.