Question About 1952 Bowmans

[Chris-Counts]

Louis, I can recall seeing these in the 1970s when I started collecting Bowmans. My guess is that Bowman used a different batch of paper for a print run. There's always a few on eBay and the prices are usually lower than otherwise because they appear to be soiled or faded. But I think it's just the way they were printed. Here's a comparison ... the Eddie Yost doesn't have the same gloss on the surface as the Cal Abrams and the paper is a different shade ...

[Volod]

Right, the difference is definitely apparent, and the dark shading doesn't seem to be related to the card's general condition, i.e., dark card just as likely to be mint in all other respects as the much whiter specimens. Again, it seems to be the low-numbered series, as looking through my set, I find several numbered 1-72, but none after that. Also don't find any such darkened cards in my 1951 set, so perhaps it was just a foul-up in the pressroom that year. Just speculation on my part, Fred.

[skooter]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm convinced the cards are not faded, but came from the company in this condition.