Tracking And Grouping Polar Bear Print Defects

[rommesc]

Hi Pat,

Looked through my Polar Bear cards and have a few with scratches that run diagonal.
1) Manning(missing corner)
2) Kruger
3) Slagle - faint scratch extending from bottom toward edge

[rommesc]

Pat,

Thank you for compiling this information and sharing the research. Have been tracking these print defects as well. Agree with your theory about these subjects sharing the same position on the print plates used for Polar Bear cards. Besides the Mathewson/Meyers/Pelty that share the same back marking, I also have these two cards:
1) Tannehill(Follow through)
2) Cy Young

[Jantz]

I took some time and looked at about half of my Polar Bears. Sorry to say that I have no matches on the cards posted so far in this thread.

Here are a few things I did see on the backs of the cards I checked out.

These 3 cards had plate scratches on the backs. O'Leary (hok), Lajoie and Ritter.

Purtell & Jack White have vertical lines in almost the same spots as the 4 other cards I listed in my earlier post.

Doc White has a ink splotch in the "e" of Bear along with a crop line (+) in the upper right corner.

My Pelty, Sweeney, Conroy and Slagle were different than the cards you posted, meaning the print was clean or they didn't have a plate scratch on them.

My Meyers card was different in the fact that the "s" in the second "always" had a ink splotch dividing the letter.

When I get some time in the next few days I will take a look at the rest of my Polar Bears and post up anything that may help.

Jantz

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by Jantz

I took some time and looked at about half of my Polar Bears. Sorry to say that I have no matches on the cards posted so far in this thread.

Here are a few things I did see on the backs of the cards I checked out.

These 3 cards had plate scratches on the backs. O'Leary (hok), Lajoie and Ritter.

Purtell & Jack White have vertical lines in almost the same spots as the 4 other cards I listed in my earlier post.

Doc White has a ink splotch in the "e" of Bear along with a crop line (+) in the upper right corner.

My Pelty, Sweeney, Conroy and Slagle were different than the cards you posted, meaning the print was clean or they didn't have a plate scratch on them.

My Meyers card was different in the fact that the "s" in the second "always" had a ink splotch dividing the letter.

When I get some time in the next few days I will take a look at the rest of my Polar Bears and post up anything that may help.

Jantz

Hi Jantz,
I went through my scans because I thought I remembered seeing defects similar to the ones you describe on your Doc White and Meyers. I didn't find any but I did discover a Cobb (Red Port) that matched one of the Camnitz (H.A.H,)/Mullin (With Bat ) pairs.
Cobb-Camnitz.jpg

[Jantz]

Hi Pat,

I checked my Cobb (red) & both Camnitz (hah) that I have and neither had the print defect as those you've posted. No Mullin in my possession yet, so nothing to compare it to.

The fact that you found a Camnitz that matches is impressive. He is a tougher player to find with a Polar Bear back. I do know that he held multiple positions on a sheet since one of my Camnitzs is a two-namer.

Took some time tonight and looked thru a few more of my Polar Bears and have noted these defects on them. I also wanted to get the names in this thread as a reference for you & Chris.

Here is a list of my cards with notable defects.

Marquard is clean with no defects like those you posted.

Howell (hah) - The letter "s" in best is broken up by an ink splotch.

Griffith (batting) - The letter "l" in Polar is broken up by an ink splotch.

Nichols (batting) - The letter "P" in Polar is broken up by a ink splotch.

Perring - Has a plate scratch running the width of the card thru the word Bear.

O'Neil - Has a vertical line much like those on the Scott & others I've mentioned.

Davis (Davis on front) - Ink splotch very similar to the second Marquard you posted. Also notice the "s" in best. Scan below.

As always, Pat & Chris, please feel free to contact me if you need any help or want me to check any of my Polar Bears.

Jantz

[Pat R]

Jantz,

Here's another Davis like yours.
Davis copy.jpg

and here's a McGraw (Port) that matches.
McGraw - Copy.jpg

And a Griffith (Batting) like the one you describe that also has part of the "P"
blocked/missing in scrap.
Griffith 2 - Copy.jpg

[Jantz]

My Griffith is a match. Now to find the other two players.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by rommesc

Hi Pat,

Looked through my Polar Bear cards and have a few with scratches that run diagonal.
1) Manning(missing corner)
2) Kruger
3) Slagle - faint scratch extending from bottom toward edge

Hi Chris,
I have scans of a kruger but comparing them to your scans I think it's actually your card.
Kruger.jpgKruger PB.jpg