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Oriented as four-card-by-six-card presentations, these two uncut sheets amount to the 2nd and 3rd series of Play Ball's 1941 baseball card issue. The '41 Play Ball production scheduled a modest 72 subjects, so these two sheets of 24 different constitute two-thirds of a complete set. Quite obviously, these two were plucked from the printer's production line that year - perhaps by a working associate for no more than the innocent purpose of attaining a couple of keepsakes. In any event, they are today profoundly rare (even as compared to earlier Goudey sheets). These Play Ball sheets are of the sponsor's standard cardboard production (as opposed to Gum, Inc.'s routinely seen, later-season paper issue). They are framed together to 24-1/2" x 27-1/2", and that display provides a view of the fully printed cardbacks, as well.
In anticipation of softening sales in the later summer, engineers devising player image assignments have, historically and invariably, shifted more popular stars toward the end of production. Such is demonstrated in '41 Play Ball as the issue's 3rd series holds a rich bounty of superstars and exciting rookies. Showcased in the series, among others, are Pee Wee Reese, Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Vander Meer, Bill Dickey, and the prize of the set -- Joe DiMaggio.
One to another, the sheets reflect an essentially identical manner of preservation. They are characterized by areas of moderate creasing about midway on the right and left edges - affecting the images of McCoskey, Milnar and Campbell on the 2nd series sheet, while Chuck Klein, Bobby Doerr, and Vince DiMaggio of the 3rd series are creased. Also to be reported: only at a fixed angle of light do we detect a series of superficial creases traversing the bottom row of cards in the 3rd series (Joe D., et al.). Despite its assignment to the last-card berth in the issue (and therefore positioned in the 3rd series' far lower right), the #72 Lefty Gomez has only minor corner wear.
Conceding that these two '41 Play Ball uncut sheets exhibit technical faults by virtue of their size and age, they are nonetheless rare treasures of immense magnitude. Both are clean and distinct to project at an aesthetic quality of Excellent or stronger.