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Joe_G.Minor correction Hal, nothing that hasn't already been posted by Jay, others, or myself . . .
The dates found on Old Judge cards cannot be trusted at face value to date either the card OR the photo. Let’s take Dan Brouthers for example, all his 1887 cards have an 1887 date. His 1888 card of the same pose(s) are dated 1888 on the card. His 1889 card, again same pose but now denoted as playing with Boston is again dated 1888. So his 1887 cards are properly dated 1887, matching both the date the photo was taken and the card itself. His 1888 cards are dated 1888 which correctly dates the card but incorrectly dates the photo. His 1889 cards are dated 1888 which incorrectly dates both the card and the photo it is based off of.
When reading the date off an OJ card, the only thing you can be sure of is that the card was issued during or after the year found on the card. For example, if you find an OJ dated 1889, you can be sure it was issued in 1889 (or possibly a rare 1890 card). The photo however could have been taken years earlier.
Also, it is generally accepted that certain N172 OJs were first produced and distributed in 1886 (script & possibly some of the short numbered cards). So the run actually spans 1886 - 1890.
Best Regards,
Joe Gonsowski