Baseball Postage Stamps

Not everyone thinks of postage stamps when they think about collecting vintage baseball cards.

But they are actually sort of cool.  The first baseball themed baseball stamp isn't even US postage stamp.  It was a 1934 Philippines issue. 

1934 Philippines

In fact, the second, third and fourth baseball stamps weren't US postage either.  It wasn't until 1939 that the US issued it's first baseball stamp.  It celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the invention of baseball. 

The second baseball stamp is the 1935 Colombia issue.  This stamp is usually sold as part of a set that sells for around $1,000 so I don't have one of these yet.  But it is my second favorite design.  I like the scene and design.

1935 Colombia

Here are the third and fourth baseball stamps.  The 1937 Nicaragua set of four different colors and the 1938 Panama stamp.

1937 Nicaragua

1938 Panama

 

As stated the fifth baseball stamp is the first US issue.  Here is the 1939 Centennial of Baseball stamp.

 

1939 US Centennial of Baseball

 

The next stamps to be issued were my favorite, the 1944 Venezuelan set.  I love the colors in this set and the design of the stamp.

 





1944 Venezuelan

The next two are from 1948, one from Japan and another Nicaraguan stamp.

 

1948 Japan



1948 Nicaragua

There are several modern stamps after 1948 from many countries, but I just wanted to focus on these issues for now.  Maybe another post will showcase the later issues. 

I hope you like these stamps as much as I do.

Enjoy the hobby all...it's a great one. 

Hans in Blue shows up on eBay

Years ago I posted about the c. 1910 E-Unc Honus Wagner (Blue Caption) card.

Back then it was the first I had seen the card and I was fascinated by it.  It still remains my favorite Wagner card.  It appears the set is also known as the Blue Caption set and there are a few known examples.  The checklist is not complete as so few are known and the background of the set is a mystery.

Well, I was just scrolling through eBay and there it was, a Blue Caption Wagner for sale!  Then I looked at the price...$25,000.00 plus $200.00 shipping.  Don't get me started on asking $200 for shipping when you're asking $25K for a card (I feel like shipping and insurance should be included in a $25K purchase). 

When this card sold in Heritage 10 years ago it sold for $4,481.25.  Well, not this exact card, but the other known example which was an SGC 10 example.  Is this SGC 20 (from the Richard Egan collection) worth $20K more?  I don't think so, but I could be wrong. 

I figured I would show the SGC 10 as well as a comparison.  Note: these are the only two examples known at this time.

 

I really wish I knew more about the set so I could give you some background.  But all I have to offer are a couple more scans of cards from the set.  Here are the Bridwell and McCormick cards.

 

 

Notice the extra large borders on this Bridwell example.  It almost looks hand cut to me.  

 

 



The McCormick has a couple large borders as well and some stray red printing.  Both have terrible quality images, but the same blue font for the name and team.

If you have any scans of any other players I'd love to get them if you would share them with me.  Please let me know if you do. 

Enjoy the hobby all...it's a great one.

New Purple Number Back Stamps

I've been collecting these T206s with this particular type of back stamp for years.

And they just never come up for sale anywhere.  Well, a fellow T206 back stamp collector located these for me recently and I was able to pick them up.  He picked up one of them for me when he saw it and then I was able to get the other one. 

 

Here is Ball with the number 81 on the back.  This is a very nice clear stamp as well. 

 

 

And Sweeney with a 142 on the back.  This is the highest number I've ever seen on one of these purple number stamps. 

 

These back stamps always have a lot of pencil writing all over the backs as well.  I have no idea what any of these numbers, pencil notes, etc. mean but I just love the numbers.  Like I said, they never show up for sale so I'm just thrilled to have them. 

 

Enjoy the hobby all...however you like it.