This column looks at three rare original sports photographs, two from recent auctions. One is a rare 1940s color photo of Stan Musial, one a gold-backed glass photo of Kenasaw Mountain Landis and the third a ultra high speed 'sctroboscopic' photo of Ohio State All-American Wes Fesler. All three are the only examples I've seen. The above is an original and perhaps … [Read more...] about Groundbreaking Vintage Photos Still Fascinate
David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
Antique Prints Collecting Tips and a New Authentication Guide
Whether you're collecting or selling interests are old sports or tobacco cards, movie posters, programs, premiums or publications, I've consolidated many of my past columns on authenticating prints into one free volume, a free pdf e-book titled "Identifying Antique Commercial Printing Processes, And the Basics of Authenticating Antique and Art Prints." Download the guide … [Read more...] about Antique Prints Collecting Tips and a New Authentication Guide
8 Sports Card Issues Rarer Than the T206 Wagner
The 1909 T206 Honus Wagner is the most famous and expensive baseball card, trading card and perhaps even collectible in the world. Though the exact count is unknown and new examples are discovered from time to time, it is usually roughly estimated that about 50 to 80 of the cards exist. While that's a limited number, this article lists eight sports trading cards--and one … [Read more...] about 8 Sports Card Issues Rarer Than the T206 Wagner
Free Downloadable Guide to Identifying Materials in Antiques
I've come out with a new beginner's e-book guide to identifying common materials in antique memorabilia and collectibles, including sports items. You can download it for free here. Materials (ceramics, wood, metal, fur, plastic, paper, etc) is a massive, ongoing area of study and research. There have been volumes of literature written just on diamonds, a university professor … [Read more...] about Free Downloadable Guide to Identifying Materials in Antiques
Antique Printing Processes Identification Part 5 of 6: Miscellaneous Processes
This is the fifth in a series of six columns on identifying common antique commercial printing processes to make sports prints including trading cards, ad signs and signs, premiums, postcards and more. This segment is on the miscellaneous processes including collotype, photogravure, rotogravure, woodbury type, gilding and screen printing. COLLOTYPE (Also known as Albertype, … [Read more...] about Antique Printing Processes Identification Part 5 of 6: Miscellaneous Processes
Looking at the Photos of George Grantham Bain
George Grantham Bain (1865-1944) was a famed American news photographer based primarily in New York City. He first worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and United Press in the late 1890s before starting his own company, Bain News Service. Today, he is famed for his wonderful and often candid images of newsworthy subjects large and small, including sports stars, suffragette … [Read more...] about Looking at the Photos of George Grantham Bain
Antique Printing Processes Identification Part 4 of 6: Color Lithography
This is the fourth of six entries on identifying commercial processes used in early collectibles. This entry is on 19th and early 20th color lithography which was used to make everything from tobacco cards and postcards to silent movie posters and advertising signs, and is known for its beautiful colors and vivid graphics. Happily for collectors, early color lithography is easy … [Read more...] about Antique Printing Processes Identification Part 4 of 6: Color Lithography
Sports Collector’s Guide to Identifying Glass
This column is a beginner's guide to several common kinds of antique glass for sports and non-sports collectors. Glass is labeled and catalogued in different ways, including by its formula or chemical recipe, how the final shape is formed, its style and genre. The following are standard types of glass, defined by the formula, method and genre. Pressed glass. Most glass … [Read more...] about Sports Collector’s Guide to Identifying Glass
A Look At Victorian Sports Trade Cards, Scraps and Die Cuts
This column is a quick look at the fanciful, colorful and esoteric collecting genre of Victorian era sports trade cards, die cuts and scraps. Trade Cards Trade cards were freebie cards used as advertisement. Unlike with premiums, supplements and inserts, they weren't directly tied to the sale of a product-- meaning you didn't have to buy something to get them or … [Read more...] about A Look At Victorian Sports Trade Cards, Scraps and Die Cuts
Editions, Proofs, States and Other Aspects of Fine Art Sports Prints
This column looks at several parts of fine art prints, including things you've likely heard of before but mayb have never known what they exactly meant: press proofs, artists proofs, states, limited editions, etc. EDITIONS Fine art prints are often printed in editions. An edition will contain a finite and often known number of prints. There is the normal print run, then … [Read more...] about Editions, Proofs, States and Other Aspects of Fine Art Sports Prints