1934 Diamond Matchbook Cover Silver Border William Harris Pittsburgh Pirates (P)

Description: 1934 Diamond Matchbook Cover Silver Border William M. Harris - Pittsburgh Pirates (P)1930-1939 Baseball Cards1930s baseball cards include an impressive card offering for collectors that spans much of the decade. The top card maker during the period was the Goudey Gum Company. While gum was the main attraction at the time, the sets included many of the big names of the era and this period of baseball cards has developed a strong following. Although the decade is devoid of familiar card companies, Goudey produced some great products. 1933 Goudey is the top overall option and includes a Hall of Fame checklist. Top rookie players from the decade include Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx all have rookie cards that are found in 1933 Goudey. 1934-37 Diamond Matchbook Cover Silver Boarder Baseball Set These matchbook covers were printed over a period of three years by the Diamond Matchbook Company. In addition to baseball, this company created matchbook covers featuring football and hockey players as well. They are not traditional baseball cards but were listed in the American Catalog as U1, U2, U3, and U4. The covers came printed in an assortment of colors and include five distinct types spread out over four years: U1 (1934)U2 (1935)U3-1 (1935-36)U3-2 (1937 – mostly Cubs)U4 (1936) All of the matchbook covers have some value regardless of condition. But complete books with the matches unused generally bring a premium. Because these were matchbook covers, they are often heavily worn with creasing, tears, and other flaws. Matchbooks fully intact with the matches sell for a premium and ones with the striker still attached are more valuable than ones where it has been removed. Some are found with various background colors. They use the same image but are available in an assortment of colors, making the assembling of a master set of the entire series incredibly challenging. Dizzy Dean and Mel Ott are among the biggest names in this series. Surprisingly, though many big stars were not included, such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, and more. Why so many big names were left out is a mystery. One of the biggest reasons these remain popular with collectors is their affordability. Even the most expensive ones in the series can be found for under $100. Low-grade commons can sell for as little as $1-$3 a piece. Fronts of the matchbooks feature a black and white image or sepia photo of a player inside of a square along with his name. The backs include a biography and insides of the books (where the matches were stored) are blank. Separating the Five SetsWhile there are five different sets, many collectors have a difficult time determining which ones are which. However, here are the characteristics for the different sets. U1 – Silver border around player photoU2 – Black backgroundU3-1 – Mention 1934 and 1935 seasons in biographyU3-2 – Mostly Cubs and mention 1936 season in biographyU4 – Include team name under the player name on the back (others do not) Of note here is that the U3-2 series is mostly a Cubs set. However, two Hall of Famers, Dizzy Dean and Paul Waner, are the sole non-Cubs in it. At the time of issue, Dean played for the Cardinals and Waner played for the Pirates. Ironically, Dean would end up with the Cubs in 1938 a year after that set was issued. Variations include: 18a -Ralph Boyle (Error, photo actually Virgil Davis) 18b -Ralph Boyle (Correct Photo), 73 -Chas. Grimm (Fielding), 74 -Chas. Grimm (Portrait), and 140a -Lynn Nelson (Error photo actually Eugene DeSautels) 140b -Lynn Nelson (Correct photo). The unnumbered matchbook covers are listed in alphabetical order by the players last name.How We Grade: Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks. Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund. Standard Shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is $3.95 per individual item purchased. Standard/Combined Shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card when purchased through the E-bay Shopping Cart application, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Shipping costs are subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see the shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes. Please see all of our other ads & visit our store for some great deals on both New & Vintage cards, comics and more. If you do not see what you are looking for, do not hesitate to ask. 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Price: 4.95 USD

Location: Madison, Alabama

End Time: 2025-02-01T18:30:53.000Z

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