Felix Mendelsohn

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

I am confused on this set and have searched and can not find anything on it in SCD or Old Cardboard.

I was told this is a card from the set..



Now in the Huggins auction they have this card which is listed as a Mendelsohn but looking at Old Cardboard it is a M101-6 (http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m101-6/m101-6.asp?cardsetID=966)



So here is my confusion then what card is the Matty? And what is the difference between a M101-6 and Felix Mendelsohn?

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

Bobby, they're both Mendelsohns, although from different sets.

Felix Mendelsohn designed and printed what are commonly called the Sporting News sets m101-4 and m101-5. Blank-backed examples from these sets are now being catalogued as Mendelsohn, at least by some. My 2007 SCD identifies them this way.

Mendelsohn is also responsible for what are commonly called m101-6, issued over a few years circa 1917-1920, of which your Walter Johnson scan is an example. These too were called a Sporting News issue for years, although their only connection to the magazine was the fact that Mendelsohn briefly advertised them for sale there--they were not available as a subscription or other premium through TSN. My 2007 SCD lists these as Felix Mendelsohn also, although m101-6 is still commonly used as the set name.

The Matty you show is one of the scarcest 20th century cards in our hobby. These were Mendelsohn's creation in 1917, meant to build upon his m101-4&5 sets from the prior year. He advertised them once in TSN in 1917, as a set of 200, but it does not appear as if the set was ever distributed. Only three cards are known from the set--Matty, Walter Johnson, and Ray Schalk, and one example of each has been confirmed. I am lucky enough to own the Schalk. These are also catalogued as Mendelsohn, and/or M-Unc.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

Perfect thanks so much for that info