Goudey

Amazing Auction History – Eight Uncut 1933 Goudey Proof Sheets

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How about this for some amazing auction history: A group of eight uncut 1933 Goudey proof sheets from The Official 13th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention Auction, July 8-10, 1992.

Here’s the lot’s description, courtesy of Superior Galleries:

1933 Goudey Proof Sheets. This lot contains eight uncut proof sheets. When cards are printed in color, the printer checks each color process to make sure the presses are working properly and the colors are coming out as desired. This procedure has resulted in the color process such as the Goudey color process sheets. These sheets were not meant to be cut up and distributed-their purpose was to help the printer ensure that all was correct before full production be-gan. These are truly the first cards produced for the issue and are “proofs” in the true sense of the word, as they are meant to be ‘proofread.’

There are exactly two groups of complete Goudey proof processes known and this is one. Two different complete groups of eight process sheets, plus two process sheets of a third group of 24 Goudeys, which since had been cut up for individual sale. Notes from the original Goudey file indicate they were removed in 1943. The punch holes on the left side of each sheet were put there by the printer for the purpose of binding the sheets together with the aim to create a “book” of color proof processes. The same binding process, such as this or staples, is a common practice so the proof processor can keep the sheets neat and orderly for future reference, and separate from other printing jobs.

These sheets were originally taken from the Goudey Company in 1943 and were later discovered in the early 1970g. These are perhaps the most historic and unique uncut sheets ever to be offered for sale. The sheets have been framed and matted. Overall condition is Excellent to Mint.

Estimated value in 1992: $175,000-250,000.

Happy collecting!

A Rare 1937 R342 Goudey Baseball Thum-Movies Window Sign

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I ran across this window sign advertising the circa 1937 R342 Goudy Thum-Movies in Sotheby’s March 1991 auction catalog, which included The Copeland Collection; it’s a cool-looking sign in black and white, but it’s actually red, white, and blue.

Sotheby’s described the window sign as follows:

Goudey Flip Movie Window Sign, circa 1937, red, white and blue, blank on reverse, thin paper and very delicate, depicting a drawing of a flip movie being flipped and also “gum and pictures only 2 cents” which gives it provenance to the R342 set, near mint to mint. 5⅞ in. by 7⅝ in.

The window sign for the R342 Goudey Flip Movies, were meant to be glued to the window of candy stores. This sign still shows the strips of glue along the edges since it was never used.

Their estimate for the item was $1,000-1,500.

Based on the staple holes and a bit of the paper loss, it looks like Heritage resold the same item in February 2017 for $384.

Heritage highlighted that it was the first time they had the opportunity to present this piece to their bidders and that the item was very fragile.

REA sold the following copy, which originated directly from Goudey’s files, in the spring of 2017 for $360.

They wrote that it still had the original strips of clear glue along the vertical sides, which a candy store was supposed to wet to attach the poster to the window. This one also had two clean staple holes, but the paper loss differs from the Heritage example.

For more information, I previously shared a piece about this set’s cousin; the R326 Goudey Flip Movies set, and Sports Collectors Daily has a nice overview of both Goudey Baseball Movies sets.