Joe R. Royer Confectioner

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Posted By: Frank L.

I was looking through my collection and again pulled out the Old Judge card printed with JOE R. ROYER CONFECTIONER on back. I bought my example several years back. There was a discussion about this in 2005 on the forum. Any conclusion if these cards are real? I did not see a consenus on those discussions. There is one listed on ebay BUY IT NOW for $1000.

Frank L.

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Posted By: Fred C

I've seen a few of these cards. One that I've seen recycled a few times on ebay is a Tommy McCarthy. The Royer stamped cards I've seen seem a little smaller than a standard OJ (yes, I realize OJs came in varying size). There's something else about those cards that I just can't put my finger on. I don't think they're the real thing, just my opinion.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Ask yourself why a confectioner would use as promotion a card with a tobacco add on it. There were available many advertisement-free cards to place your company stamp on, including comic trade cards. In fact, the 1880s-90s comic trade cards were specifically made for a company, whether a confectioner or local general store, to place its stamp on.

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Posted By: Joe Jones

I have one and the tobacco ad is cut off.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Interesting detail, Joe.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I saw on eBay an Old Judge with a stamp for a pickled herring distributor. Thought it was pretty fishy.

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Posted By: Rhett Yeakley

Not related to the Royer stamps (which I had also thought were not legit -- however someone may have added the stamp to real OJ's too) but I have the following back stamp on an OJ Gerhardt (Script Series)...

-Rhett

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Posted By: davidcycleback

A cigar store stamp makes sense. They probably stocked Old Judge and were happy to promote smoking in general.

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Posted By: Frank L.

The one I have is yellowed as is the one currently going for $1000 on ebay(yes it is Tommy McCarthy as mentioned above). I find it interesting that a Confectioner named Royer did exist in Lancaster, PA at the beinning of the century. Per Scott Brockelman(on 9/25/05 thread), he did not feel these were likely a recent fake and may have been based on real OLD JUDGE cards from the time. The photo is blurry and cant quite make out the name.

One other member of the forum found that Mr. Joseph R Royer had a candy operation at 52 W King Street dating to 1882. This is the adress also listed on back of card.

I had hoped some new information would have arisen to shed light on the legitimacy or lack of it on these cards.

Frank L.

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Posted By: Fred C

The seller is calling this a script series card based on the handwritten player name, position and team inscription. Look at the above Gerhardt, that is a script series card.