1939-46 Exhibit Salutations Set (W462)

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‘It’s In The Details’

Title W462 Salutations Exhibits
Year 1939-46
Size 3 1/2″ x 5 5/16″
Images Sepia
Type Exhibit
Number in Set
 65 (Base set without variations) / 88 (Master set)

Exhibit Salutations (W462) Overview

prewarcards-exhibit-salutations-bob-fellerprewarcards-luke-appling Salutations ExhibitWhile most of the W462 Exhibits were printed after 1939, the date we deem as the end of the pre-war card era, this series was started in that year.

88 cards are in the set, but there are only 63 if you don’t count the variations. In addition to the player’s image (in sepia tone) and a replica of his signature on the front, these also included a short greeting, such as ‘Sincerely’ or ‘Best Wishes.’ Backs were entirely blank.

While the set is often referred to as the ‘Salutations’ set, the American Card Catalog does not specifically give it a name.

Numerous variations exist and in most cases, they are minor. One is that the “Made in USA” print is found in either the left or right corners on many of the cards. Other variations exist, too. One involves Andy Pafko (pictured) who has cards with both a blank cap and one with a ‘C’ on it.

Many of baseball’s biggest stars of the 1930s and 1940s are here, including Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, and more.

83 Cards vs. 88 Cards … and Additional Variations

prewarcards-tommy_holmes_-_no_an_exhibit_cardprewarcards-tommy-holmes-an-exhibit-cardWhile 83 are sometimes cited in the set, there are actually at least 88 cards.

Tommy Holmes has three variations and only two are generally cited. Two of the the Holmes cards are slightly different. The ‘An Exhibit Card’ version has Holmes’ right foot extending to the bottom border. The version without that text, however, has the bottom of his foot not reaching that border.

That type of slight variance is found on a few other known cards, too. Lou Boudreau, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Williams, and Rudy York all have similar photo issues that are generally not checklisted as separate cards. In all, you get five more cards not previously known.

In addition, even more variations are known. As these cards were printed in various years, you will find them with various tints. Some have a reddish tint while others are closer to (or purely) black and white. Others are sepia toned. The complete number in this set, with all of the photo variances, the text variances, and tint variances is truly unknown. For purposes of the checklist below, only the recognized variances, as well as the other slight photo variances I mentioned above, are listed.

Pictured here are two of the different Tommy Holmes cards. The card on the left includes the text, ‘An Exhibit Card’ in the lower left corner while the card on the right does not. These types of variances are slight but are recognized by collectors as truly different cards.

Here’s a bit more on the variations in the setHere’s a bit more on the variations in the set.

Exhibit Salutations (W462) Checklist

For purposes of the checklist below, only the recognized standard checklist, as well as the other slight photo variances I mentioned above, are listed.

  1. Luke Appling (USA left)
  2. Luke Appling (USA right)
  3. Earl Averill
  4. Red Barrett
  5. Hank Borowy
  6. Lou Boudreau
  7. Lou Boudreau with slight photo variation
  8. Dolph Camilli
  9. Phil Cavarretta
  10. Harland Clift
  11. Tony Cuccinello
  12. Dizzy Dean
  13. Paul Derringer
  14. Bill Dickey (USA left)
  15. Bill Dickey (USA right)
  16. Joe DiMaggio
  17. Bob Elliott
  18. Bob Feller (pitching)
  19. Bob Feller (portrait)
  20. Dave Ferris
  21. Jimmie Foxx
  22. Lou Gehrig
  23. Charlie Gehringer
  24. Lefty Gomez
  25. Joe Gordon (Cleveland)
  26. Joe Gordon (New York)
  27. Hank Greenberg (Truly Yours)
  28. Hank Greenberg (Very Truly Yours)
  29. Lefty Grove
  30. Gabby Hartnett
  31. Buddy Hassett
  32. Jeff Heath (large picture)
  33. Jeff Heath (small picture)
  34. Kirby Higbe
  35. Tommy Holmes (Sincerely Yours)
  36. Tommy Holmes (Yours Truly – with ‘An Exhibit Card’)
  37. Tommy Holmes (Yours Truly – without ‘An Exhibit Card’)
  38. Carl Hubbell
  39. Bob Johnson
  40. Charles Keller (USA left)
  41. Charles Keller (USA right)
  42. Ken Keltner
  43. Chuck Klein
  44. Mike Kreevich
  45. Joe Kuhel
  46. Bill Lee
  47. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially)
  48. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially Yours)
  49. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially Yours with slight photo variation)
  50. Marty Marion
  51. Marty Marion (An Exhibit Card)
  52. Merrill May
  53. Frank McCormick (USA left)
  54. Frank McCormick (USA right)
  55. George McQuinn (USA left)
  56. George McQuinn (USA right)
  57. Joe Medwick
  58. Johnny Mize (USA left)
  59. Johnny Mize (USA right)
  60. Hugh Mulcahy
  61. Hal Newhouser
  62. Buck Newsom
  63. Buck Newson (misspelled)
  64. Mel Ott (USA left)
  65. Mel Ott (USA right)
  66. Andy Pafko
  67. Andy Pafko (with ‘C’ on cap)
  68. Claude Passeau
  69. Howard Pollet (USA left)
  70. Howard Pollet (USA right)
  71. Pete Reiser (USA left)
  72. Pete Reiser (USA right)
  73. Johnny Rizzo
  74. Glenn Russell
  75. George Stirnweiss
  76. Cecil Travis
  77. Paul Trout
  78. Johnny Vander Meer
  79. Arky Vaughan
  80. Fred Walker
  81. Fred Walker (‘D’ on cap)
  82. Bucky Walters
  83. Lon Warneke
  84. Ted Williams
  85. Ted Williams (with #9)
  86. Ted Williams with slight photo variation
  87. Rudy York
  88. Rudy York with slight photo variation

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