WARNING: Fake AT&SF 1876 Color Timetables
FRAUD ALERT: These fake timetables which have started to appear on eBay, are easy to spot because they are reproduced using a color halftone screen printing process that shows an array of dots easily visible when the timetable is looked at with magnification. Halftone printing did not exist in 1876.
When legitimately sold as not being original by an ethical dealer, these are described for example as "AT&SF 11-26-1876. Large, very colorful, very ornate REPRINT, guessing 1970's - 80's date of reprint (16-pl)...$11."
Railroad Fakes & Reproductions: "... These are quite attractive and apparently have been printed in some quantity. One guess is that they were produced in the 1970's, but whether or not there ever was an original timetable like this is unknown."
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 1:10 PM
10 Comments:
From: "Don" ddsnoddy@cox.net
In 1876 the paper should be more white than yellow. It should still be printed on rag paper. ...
—Don Snoddy
Question from eBay Member koevet21:
Am I to understand that [a certain] '1876' AT&SF timetable is NOT authentic? I have seen several reproductions of early timetables, but not of this one.
I was under the impression [an example of this] timetable came from the estate of James Bistline, former general counsel of the Southern Railroad, and what he had was presumed authentic.
Dear koevet21,
Yes, the timetable that you asked about we believe is from that estate and we found that it is not authentic. See for yourself (a magnified scan of the one that you inquired about).
(Please e-mail museum@CPRR.org for further details. Sorry, we were not able to answer you directly, as we don't know your e-mail address, and eBay's messaging system blocked our lengthy reply to your message which it also deleted without warning. Grrrr.)
Thanks to the helpful eBay'ers who brought their concern about this timetable to our attention, and also put us in touch with koevet21. Much appreciated!
... I have no information to inform your question: is this timetable a modern "fantasy item" or a reproduction. A quick review of the contents might enable you to determine if this a fantasy item, viz: the AT&SF'e early history was convoluted, and in the period in question the Santa Fe, the Frisco, and the Atlantic & Pacific Company were all in a tangle....over ownership/routes....it would take a very careful researcher to puzzle this all out and create an "accurate" fake timetable. This seems the most efficient way to quickly conduct a (though non-dispositive) test of reproduction v fantasy.
I have been led to believe that the bulk ("the good stuff") of James Bistline's collection went to the (North Carolina Transportation Museum) Spencer Shops after a curator surveyed his collection. The remaining items were then sold to a local estate agent ... My guess is that you have it just right: Bistline either was fooled or just thought it a pretty reproduction.....and could not foresee the conditions of its eventual disposition. To my knowledge he bought (non- SRR) items from large as well as individual collector/dealers principally along the east coast in the 1950s-1970s. In his many (and some bulk) purchases it would have been easy for him to acquire non-authentic items and simply not take the time to haggle over relatively low cost items. ...
From: "Jake Stewart" jakestewart@earthlink.net
I ran across an article that seems to resolve the "1876" timetable authenticity issue.
On a website www.railroadiana.org, I found the timetable in question discussed, saying the [timetable] was apparently a 1976 reproduction done by Santa Fe Industries (as noted in its 1975 Annual Report to stockholders) in connection with the USA's bicentennial celebration. The 1976 reproduction was of their 1876 timetable and was available for purchase from the company itself.
—Jake Stewart
Thanks so much for letting us know that the this timetable mystery has been solved!
I realize this thread is very old, but I was wondering if anyone could help me out. What the approximate value is of one of these 1876 reproduction AT & SF timetables? Thanks
Guess about $4-$12 range. Check eBay completed auctions for a more precise valuation.
From: renee12
Thanks for the reply. I did check Ebay current and completed auctions, but could not find this item.
Post a Comment
<< Recent Messages