Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2025
Offered for your consideration is this scarce pre-war O-Pee-Chee near complete set of V94 baseball premiums pictures. The V94 premiums from O-Pee-Chee are smaller than their similar 1934 Butterfinger R130 counterpart distributed in the United States and measure 6 1/2" by 8 1/2", but also much larger than traditional cards. This set is credited as being O-Pee-Chee's first baseball issue. An original envelope/wrapper pictured on the sale of a set of these V94's back in 2022 had bilingual French and English text stating "Salesmen's samples - baseball gum", "A large 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 picture of your favorite baseball star and one large piece of gum for 1c", "100 sticks and 100 pictures in each box - 50 big league stars" and "Made in London, Canada by O-Pee-Chee Company Limited" which confirms these were indeed made by O-Pee-Chee.
Various sources list this set has having either 56 or 58 premiums pictures, the later one including premiums of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. We couldn't find any examples of those two premiums which have sold in the past, either individually or as part of a set, and therefore it is assumed that the full set is comprised of 56 premiums. Included in this collection are 53 different premiums and 10 duplicates and only missing for completion for a set of 56 are; Owen Carroll, Doc Cramer and Jimmie Wilson .
Starting with the Hall of Famers lineup including sixteen (16) premiums and two (2) duplicates; a first group of nine (9) premiums, all technically in lower grade, but having the visual appeal of EX examples, with each neatly affixed to a scrapbook paper page on their backs near their corners and showing small clear glue residues on various areas of the front of the pictures but which are mainly located near the edges/corners. This group of nine includes Rick Ferrell, Chas Gehringer, Vern Gomez, Jimmy Foxx, Robert Lefty Grove, Earl Averill, Gordon Mickey Cochrane, Stanley Harris and William (Bill) Dickey which has a very small bend on the top border. Also included is a duplicate of Gehringer, this one appearing completely glued to a red cardboard backing and having multiple creases and defects.
A second group of six (6) Hall of Famers premiums are not glued to a scrapbook page on their backs with this group exhibiting some water stains along their top edges. The water staining pattern appears similar on all the premiums included in this group and it is unclear if they had been glued at some point or just stored together and subsequently suffered the same water stains. These are also technically in lower grade but still displaying well and includes Jim Bottomly, Waite Hoyt, Joe Cronin, Al Simmons, Dizzy Dean and a duplicate of Jimmy Foxx. The last two HOFers included are Paul Wanner and Chick Haffey with both images trimmed to approx. 6" x 8" and having glue residues on their backs.
The balance of the included premiums are also divided-up in two main groups; a first group of twenty-nine (29) premiums, all technically in lower grade, but having the visual appeal of EX examples, with each neatly affixed to a scrapbook paper page on their backs near their corners and showing small clear glue residues on various areas of the front of the pictures but which are mainly located near the edges/corners. Included in this group are; Ed Holley, Carl Reynolds, Hall Lee, Al Smith, Lew Fonseca, Robert Weiland, Wally Roettger, Joe Morrisey, Harold Smith, Alvin Crowder, Bob Worthington, John Blondy Ryan, Arthur Veltman, Bobo Newson, Frank (Pinky) Higgins, Joe Mowry, Eddie Delker, Ernie Orsatti, Frank Hogan, Oscar Mellilo, Bob Brown, Randy Moore, Mule Haas, Gee Walker, Jim Jordan, Allyn Stout, Burgess Whitehead, Gus Mancuso (has a 1 1/2" tear on the lower left corner area) and Al Simmons (has a side to side horizontal fold line/crease in the middle).
The second group of eleven (11) premiums are not glued to a scrapbook page on their backs with this group exhibiting some water stains along their top edges. The water staining pattern appears similar on all the premiums included in this group (and as on the group of HOFers aforementioned) and it is unclear if they had been glued at some point or just stored together and subsequently suffered the same water stains. These are also technically in lower grade but still displaying well and includes Bob Brown (duplicate), Randy Moore (duplicate), Mule Haas (duplicate), Earl Whitehill, Fresco Thompson, Frank Hogan (duplicate), Tom Zachary, Oscar Mellilo (duplicate - has a 2" fold line/crease in the lower left corner area), Johnny Vergez (has a 3" fold line/crease in the lower left corner area), Tommy Bridges (has a small tear on the right border) and Austin (Cy) Moore (which has some stains on its back). The remaining included five (5) pictures includes Burgess Whitead (duplicate) and Bob Weiland (duplicate) both having glue residues on their backs and pin holes in the corners with the last three pictures trimmed and having glues residues on their backs; Jack Salveson, Larry Benton and Chas (Chick) Fullis.
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