can anyone explain why these cards are found with and without a lacquered finish. Was the lacquering part of the early finishing process? I have also see it on the Marburg Statesmen series.
Also. I need 1 card (Ed P. Weston) to complete my set if anyone can help, lacquered or not.
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While I collect this series - I haven't yet had time or inclination to study the issue yet other than accumulating factual and anecdotal information about the subjects albeit sporadically. I DO have a Hart that has been lacquered (or appears so) and my other 5/6 cards are not. I would also be interested in hearing anything about this. BTW - I am missing the Weston card as well and have for the moment filled the void with one of his CDV's.................
(edited to add: Ooooops - I forgot to answer the ? - I do not think that the different surface is original - perhaps the known cards were accumulated by one person who subsequently attempted to mount them on something with this application - we'll never know. I doubt it had anything to do with preservation like shellacking signed baseballs - as collecting in this era was more of a personal thing - and there was no incentive. In addition - the population of with to without is apparently greater than 1 to 10 - and no other series exhibits these traits.....)
This message has been edited by 1880nonsports on Oct 9, 2008 6:42 PM
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Theory on the lacquered vs nonlacquered N344 cards
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November 6 2008, 1:04 PM
I own several of these cards both lacquered and unlacquered. A history of Pedestrians and 2 rowers in this time frame seems to shed some light: all of the Pedestrians were except Peter Panchott (misspelled Panghott on the card) were active in 1879, this is more likely the correct year to ascribe to initial issuance of these cards. Panchot shot to prominence in 1881. On the other hand, Weston was past 40 years old and was performing exhibitions in England by 1881.
It would be interesting to know whether the Panghott card only exists as being lacquered and the Weston card only exists as unlacquered. This would be consistent with my belief that these cards were distributed over a several year period, the lacquering being on cards 1881 and later, unlacquered cards issued for 1879 and 1880.
AS for the rowers, Hanlan and Courtney, had huge rowing contests in 1879 and May, 1880. but they continued to have a bitter rivalery and conttests ast least as late as 1883. I've seen these cards lacquered and unlacquered. Hanlan won most of these contests, subsequently being included in the N28 set.
The lacquered cards all seem to have a light blue tintng in the surrounding frame. Unlacquered cards can exist without that tinting, suggesting that that earlier printing. The lacquered cards also seem to had been lacquered at different times, as the lacquering is slightly different for different cards.
The N342, 344 and 347's were distributed in the early 1880's with hand rolled cigarettes at theater, political rallies and the 6 day pedestrian events in the New York City area. Cigarettes during this period were only availalbe to the wealthy who could go out for an evening entertainment and where there was gambling involved. This was prior to cigarettes being mass produced starting in the mid 1880's and being widely available and taxed at a far lower rate by 1887 with the cardboard stiffners.
If anyone has the N344 cards of Merritt, Haezel, Ennis or Guyon for sale (any condition, lacquered or unlacquered), please write to robertmike57@comcast.net
This message has been edited by robertmike57 on Nov 6, 2008 1:18 PM
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and have for the moment filled the void with one of his CDV's.................
