Fun T206 Print Anomaly Downey Batting Tolstoi Blue Numbers on Front

[Maxjacks]

Hello,

I wanted to share a special card I got in the mail today with everyone. Downey Batting Tolstoi with what appears to be numbers in blue ink on the front. The blue numbers are definitely from the printing process, and at least one other Downey Tolstoi is out there with these exact markings. I would love to hear some theories of what everyone thinks the marking are for and if anyone else has found other Tolstoi subjects with similar markings.
Had to make some edits for accuracy after new information

[Maxjacks]

MY theory is that these numbers are some sort of sheet designation similar to the large factory numbers that can be found on some Sweet Caporal cards

[Maxjacks]

I wanted to do an update with a side by side of the two know copies

[G1911]

Really cool cards. Interesting that the back print is so visible on the front from a wet sheet on both copies.

Since the posts about the large numbers on the Sweet Capitals, I have been looking for these kinds of markings on other ATC cards and turned up 0 in the world outside baseball - interesting if this is only a T206 thing as we usually see commonalities, with each series really more of 1 particular run or group of runs of what constitutes a single massive marketing project.

I would presume it is some sort of sheet designation, but my presumptions are oft wrong. I have checked my small number of Tolstoi T206’s and turn up no blue markings or a small hint of one.

[Pat R]

Hey Max. I have the other Downey, Luke had your example and realized that the numbers were some kind of factory stamp. He then found the 2nd example that I now have.

Both of them also have the same stray print marks on the front and back.

img437 - Copy.jpg

img438 - Copy.jpg

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by G1911

Really cool cards. Interesting that the back print is so visible on the front from a wet sheet on both copies.

Since the posts about the large numbers on the Sweet Capitals, I have been looking for these kinds of markings on other ATC cards and turned up 0 in the world outside baseball - interesting if this is only a T206 thing as we usually see commonalities, with each series really more of 1 particular run or group of runs of what constitutes a single massive marketing project.

I would presume it is some sort of sheet designation, but my presumptions are oft wrong. I have checked my small number of Tolstoi T206’s and turn up no blue markings or a small hint of one.

Ronnie has a couple of T59's with similar numbers as the Downey's.

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

I have a couple T59 Flags with the numbers but have to dig them out to scan them. Here's a picture from the Net54 Non Sportscard side. This is not my picture.

I think there were also some non T206's with factory numbers on the back but I'm not positive. I'll have to see if I can find them (Ronnie might also have those).

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Pat R

Ronnie has a couple of T59's with similar numbers as the Downey's.




I think there were also some non T206's with factory numbers on the back but I'm not positive. I'll have to see if I can find them (Ronnie might also have those).

Thank you, it makes more sense they are found on other issues as well to differentiate sheets. They must be pretty rare, I've not found them on T59's myself and I've lost count of how many thousands I have run through.

[Leon]

Very cool blue numbers....

Originally Posted by Maxjacks

I wanted to do an update with a side by side of the two know copies

[toppcat]

Is it possible the liithographer was marking off every time they ran 1000 sheet batches?