T206 antecedents.Photography and Lithography behind the T206s.

[ethicsprof]

Thanks, Darren. Like most treks into uncharted territories, it will take a long time but has the exploratory adrenaline of a first find in an old archaeological dig. And the Conlon artifact has captured me.
I must say that the framed Type 1 Conlon pictured alongside the T206 (no L.) Tannehill which my wife gave me for Christmas is now my most prized display at the office.
best,
barry

[Brian-Chidester]

With the plethora of auction catalogues offering cabinets throughout the years, it's likely that more than a few would have been offered from the Conlon lens.

To the issue of the lithography process, I've read some of Ted Z.'s old archived threads. I'm still curious about many things that might not be unique to just T206s, but maybe to the era at large. Silkscreening, color-processes and drying techniques were so incredibly durable in those days. Even thinner paper stock, such as the T213-1 cards, still hold their color ink with incredible durability.

I'd love to see a portrait today manipulated and printed with the same old equipment and technique. I think that would be a fascinating process to witness.

[ethicsprof]

Brian,
Thanks very much for the interest and information.
If you do know of catalogues that have the Conlon photos which are the bases for T206s, please let me know.
I have looked at the catalogues over the years and it was the last Legendary Auction that caught my eye with such an amazing offering of Type 1s. There was no mention of the various photos relating to the T206 cards themselves.
I must admit that I was not looking for anything in particular then noticed out of the corner of my eye that the Conlon looked remarkably like the T206 Tannehill (No L). I then examined it carefully and it was a match. Then i spent days looking at the Conlon's and found one more--the Killian. Quite exciting, I must say. Now this is 2 finds out of scores of photos in that catalogue.
Your ideas about lithography beyond the T206s yet T206 era are very interesting. Viewing the process via printing with the same equipment and technique would be quite fascinating and illuminating. Perhaps Jamie Hull will chime in and give us his reflections re:these arenas as he is our encyclopedia in this domain.
all the best,
Barry

[Brian-Chidester]

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the great response. Good luck with your quest and keep us posted.

I have only bid through the auction houses once, and actually, it was for a Horner photograph, but I didn't win. I have a few other catalogues and will look through them to see if I find anything. Martin Neal, who is a Net54 member and a collector who lives nearby, has a bunch of old catalogues, so maybe I'll hit him up and look through them. I, like yourself, am fascinated with the photographers and the process that ATC and ALC went through to produce what later became known as the T206 series.

[ethicsprof]

Brian,
your help and Martin's are most appreciated.
i will certainly keep you posted and please do the same.
these uncharted meanderings are most enticing.

all the best
barry

[Brian-Chidester]

T206 is such an interesting story, not just when the cards were made, but its progress through the years. Shakespeare couldn't haven't written a more strange and compelling drama.

I still remember the first card show my dad took me to in 1985, and gave me $20 to buy cards. All the heroes, like Strawberry and Clemens and Puckett were featured on colourful, pristine new cards. I can't recapture what it was that drew me to this one man's table that had a booklet of beat up tobacco cards in plastic pages< But I bought a T206 Hoblitzel for a few bucks nonetheless, and went to find my dad to show him what I had bought. He knew it was old, and even at 8 years old, I knew it was interesting, but neither of us knew exactly what is was just yet. A "dangerous" cigarette ad on the back... look at that uniform!... why are they so small... who is Hoblitzel anyway? It was the beginning of a fascinating journey, which never ends...

But that's another story, and we all have them.

[Bridwell]

Yes, many of the T206 photos were taken long before 1909. Some were used on W600 cabinets which date to 1905-1908. Others were used in Sporting Life team composites from 1905-06. You've probably noticed that some of the portrait poses in T206 show some very young-looking players, such as Cobb or Hal Chase. I remember reading that Chase was a pretty boy in his early years, as shown on the portraits. In 1909 he had a bad case of small pox and nearly died. When he returned, he was presented with a Trophy Cup by some fans. However, his face was scarred up by the illness. So in his Trophy pose in T206 he looks a lot worse than in the 2 portrait poses.