I posted a couple of these yesterday (Dumart, Bauer) and Mark mentioned that they might not actually be OPC. Made me realize that I don't really know a lot about them and, since I'm chasing the Schmidt (39-40 I believe) was wondering if someone could provide some info. For example, do you think that the fact that they're oversized impacts their value ? I traded for the ones noted above at around Beckett book and I've only seen one Schmidt that was for sale (at Gerry's) and they were asking book or more for it (and no better than EX shape).

But also interested in some history/background. How were they sold, in packs ? If not OPC, who ? Thanks guys. Need to buy that book...

I can't offer any more info that you already have. I do know that these cards have seen an increase in their popularity though. They used to be listed on eBay without much interest, and they usually sold for a fairly low price, but the stars are really starting to draw attention. This may be partially due to the fact that PSA is now grading them, but that's not all of it.

A lot of the less popular pre-war sets are beginning to gain collectors.
(At least from what I see on eBay.)

I ordered Bobby's book but it hasn't arrived yet. In speaking with him prior to publication I believe (I'm old and senile with a poor memory) he said he had done considerable research into ads from that period - newspapers and magazines etc and found ads for earlier OPC issues (v304-a to e etc.) but nothing to indicate that OPC published the 39-40 and 40-41 oversized cards. Beckett and Charlton give very little information on them. Bobby - chip in and correct me anytime here - you'll just add more demand for your book (which is a must for any vintage hockey collector - I already have his wrapper guide and its terrific).

I think the fact that PSA is grading them will push demand considerably. The 40-41 issue is already darn scarce and its hard to find EX+ samples of the 39-40s.

My limited experience would confirm that Earl - someone had several of these on eBay a few months back and the "commons" went relatively cheap, I picked up a Cooney Weiland at that time. The stars (I remember a Clapper and a Dumart I think) seemed to fetch a much greater, probably disproportionate, amount. I didn't know that PSA was grading them, are they grading Beehives too ?

Also would agree that the 39-40 seems scarcer Mark, although I've only been looking for the Schmidt. Actually, just reread your post and you mentioned 40-41, sorry. Maybe I've got the years wrong, maybe the Schmidt is 40-41, not 39-40.

Just a slight correction Mark as I have never seen any OPC cards advertised. I have seen them advertise other products tho.

With regards to 1939-40 OPC: I do state in the book that I don't think they were issued by OPC.

There are alot of things wrong with the OPC issues and they are mentioned in the book, like questionable issue dates etc...

A dramatic change (if they were OPC) from their previous years as I truly belive that the 1937-38 cards were issued over a two year period, one colour in 37'-38' and another colour in 38'-39'.(remember there are two different wrappers for this year AND much the same feeling is held for the Series A & B having two wrappers, to make two issues in the same year with such a short season back then, seems a little doubtful in my mind)

So if they were opc and they were issued in both years, why would they have a new numbering system, why not carry on or put a series on it?

My grandfather left me about 40 of these cards which I found in his trunk, man they were mint but anyhow, half of them were Movie Stars. The same Movie Stars were issued in the USA at the same time. Remember there was no Topps affiliation at that time, so the only other two companies who had USA affiliation were World Wide Gum/Goudey and Hamilton Chewing Gum/Shelby Gum...

Then again, there is no gum point of sale that we can see with these, so much like the anonymous cards issued, maybe these were just through a company selling cards and possibly not affiliated to any gum company!?

Still lots of questions left on the table, who labeled these OPC in the first place anyhow? I would like to see proof that they are OPC before we call it OPC, but that is the hobby, heresay, rumour and popular opinion sometimes rule.

On the similar note, I remember when OPC came to the Expo back in 1992, they show all their stuff off, awesome conditions 30's cards, stuff that would make your heart skip a beat and lots of old wax, boxes, sheets, gumball machines etc.....funny, no 1939-40 Cards tho!?! hmmm...

Does OPC have anything to say about the 1939-40 issue? Do they confirm or deny any information about it? I would think that if they have mint examples of their earlier cards, that they would at least know if they had issued these larger cards in 1939.

Earl

Having spoken with Gary Koreen, the past owner, as he was there from 1968 on where he started as the production manage and later married the daughter of the owner.... by default, became the owner in the 1970's.

They have no records that date back to that time period. Most things were thrown out over the years as did most companies I contacted.

There is nothing relivant that ties these cards to OPC that I have found.

Thanks for the responses guys, good stuff.

Bobby - aren't the 39-40 and 40-41 AKA V301-1 and V301-2 ? Or did you mean that they should have been continued from the 37-38 (and 38-39) OPC issues ? Wondering where that designation (V301) might have come from.

Yes, I did mean a continuation of the 37-38 - 38-39. Like I was saying if this was so, why a new set of numbers and no name on the front or back being OPC.

The V301 came as a designation from "The American Card Catalog" writen by Jefferson Burdick in 1960, the pioneer of card catalog system.
The "V" is under the "Contents" page under "insert cards" and V was designated to all Canada Candy & Gum Issues.

So all the Canadian issues are signified by V prefix. Funny that he has them listed under Recent issue, although recent is 1940 to 60's...He does state it is hard to find information from Canadian Issues.

Another note on this issue is that in 1951 ( Page 80 in the VHC) Anonymous mini hockey cards strips that were issued in vending bubble gum type machines also had alot of these players that are pictured in the v301 series and these were released in the 1950's. Funny thing is that the mini cards were done for Baseball and Movie Stars in Canada and the USA......sounds like were getting somewhere, I just don't know where tho!

Another interesting note: My grandfather came to Toronto from Quebec in 1940. (he tried out for the Leafs as he was a great player, but Connie Smythe told him that we don't want French speaking players on the team and his english wasn't that good at the time (and every time that story came up he would say "That damn Connie Symthe, tabernack))(He is also picture in the 1930's and 1940's introduction pages in the VHC, my appreciation to a great man I truly admired Cyrille Decaen) and those cards he left me along with old hockey programs and other things, they were all from 1940 to 1948....so I put this issue somewhere in that time frame for sure. Who is to say that they issued them in those exact years as cataloged, but that is just another question.