Is it ever to good to be true?

[ls7plus]

You will find that the 1939-1946 Salutations Exhibits bear the legend, "MADE IN USA." Various examples of the Williams "no No. 9" bear that legend, along with "Made in USA," PRINTED IN USA," and "Printed in USA," indicating it was indeed printed over and over again through at least 1960, Ted's last year as an active player. However, the much scarcer "No. 9 shows" pose will be found only with the "MADE IN USA" legend at the bottom. It is even possible, as Steve Verkman suggests, that the latter is a one-year only, 1939 rookie card. I have never seen a "No. 9 shows" in any tint other than brown, while all the "no No. 9" cards I have seen have had a gray tint. The 1939 Gehrig Exhibit cards I have seen, which is generally believed to be scarce due to having been pulled part way through the season after his fatal illness was announced (and it is indeed seen only about half as often, if that, as the "No. 9 shows" Williams) have always had a brown tint (as well of course as a "MADE IN USA" legend).
Mantle can be found with "Made in USA," PRINTED IN USA," and "Printed in USA." I also have an example of the latter, which I bought as a kid from a nearby penny arcade post 1957. It is generally believed that the legend "MADE IN USA" was limited to cards printed in the 1939-1946 era; "Made in USA" to the 1947-1953 era; "PRINTED IN USA" to 1954-1956; and "Printed in USA" to
1957-1966. Of course, the Exhibit Supply Co. may well have shipped cards from new old stock from time to time, so these various legends are not determinative of the time they would have actually left the company's hands. The fact that the [supposedly] 1955 Mantle postcard back card does indeed bear the legend "Made in USA" is thus consistent with it having been originally printed, if not released, from 1951-1953 (Mantle's first season with the Yanks was 1951; hence, this card cannot have been issued prior thereto).
I have personally seen scans of 1955 postcard back cards with either the "Made in USA" or PRINTED IN USA" legends, but the apparent fact that these appear to have been released only in 1955 does not in fact preclude those with the "Made in USA" logo from having been printed several years earlier. Thus, like it or not, this particular Mantle may well have originally printed in his 1951-1953 rookie "era."