Thanks for the info. That's really helpful.
bigfanNY thought that the color of the card stock looked off. That was based on the eBay listing - so maybe it was just bad photos in the listing.
I can confirm that
- the front is smooth and the back has a bit of a texture. I've added a photo of the back.
- The card also has a musty smell that I expect from an old card.
- The card stock is stiff. When I pinch the card there's no deflection.
I'm aware of the B&W/Sepia variations. I made a choice to collect the Sepia W554's with the names printed on the bottom. I just think they display a little better.
I've seen listings for the W554's with the back prints. I don't thik I'm ambitious enough for those. I'll just save my budget to pay for the Ruth and Gehrig cards instead.