1910 Orange Borders debate and info

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Posted By: dan mckee

I just received this from a long time collector, an old timer, a non-grading phsycho, a true knowledgable baseball card person.

All that argued with me, take your lumps as I actually know what I am doing once in a while!

I am a long-time collector who visits Network 54 occasionally
and
noticed your post on one of my favorite sets -- Orange-Bordered candy
cards. Since I have a copy of the Niles you illustrated, I can confirm
that
the cardboard is consistent with other Orange-Borders in my collection
and
the back is the same shade of gray. Unless someone finds a complete box
with Niles, we will never be sure that card was issued by the same
firm,
but there is sufficient evidence that that is the case. Besides the
cardboard consistency, rounded inner borders also are exhibited by
Davis,
Magee, McConnell and Steinfeldt in my collection and white highlights
on
the name are evident on Leach and Miller. Many of these cards also have
a
hint of background (stands, trees, buildings). The similarities between
these divergent Orange-Borders to those generally accepted as part of
the
set are sufficient to make "same set" a logical conclusion -- size,
blank
back, orange borders, thin white inner border, hand-lettered name
(usually
last name only) and team affiliation generally accounted for only on
the
uniform. My guess would be a "second series" following the more common
Cobbs, Wagners, Mathewsons, Planks, etc. Of course, a "knockoff" is
possible, but that seems unlikely since most of the players depicted
were
"second tier." Why make a set of Doyles, Millers and McConnells with
few if
any stars.