Good question
Welcome to the forum.
The short answer is that in fact there are variances in stock within both m101-4 and m101-5 cards, and slight size variances as well. Your two cards appear to be good examples of this.
As for m101-4, the variance in color might be attributed to a slight difference in the gloss used, although I have not studied that extensively. The backs are generally consistent in appearance in m101-4, but the fronts can appear more yellowed, especially in the Herpolsheimer and Globe issues. Sporting News and blank-backs are generally whiter, as are most of the other backs, although Weil Baking and Everybody’s are often a slightly duller, paler yellowish. Variations within a back are not uncommon either– check these two Gimbels from the same scanner: (the differences are even more noticeable when you have several next to each other)
 
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Last edited by nolemmings; 02-12-2021 at 11:02 PM.
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