During the 1930s, 40s and 50s, most Japanese cards and photos were not copyrighted. As a result, several different manufacturers have often used the same image on their card issues. Here, we have a case of the same image being used by two manufacturers in different years! The scarcer 1958 JBR 14 bromide, a large black and white, blank backed card (fewer than 10 copies known), and the smaller and more common 1959 Marukami JCM 31c Type 2 are two examples of this phenomenon. Both cards feature two of the most iconic figures in the history of Japanese baseball. Tetsuharu Kawakami, the God of Batting, and the best hitter of the 1940s and 50s was playing in his last season as an active player in 1958. Shigeo Nagashima, Japan's Mr. Giants and Mr. Baseball was named Central League Rookie of the Year in 1958. The candid photo of Nagashima in his uniform with Kawakami in a kimono drinking tea captures the essence of Japanese baseball, Japanese culture, and the relationship between the two baseball giants. If you are a Nagashima and/or a Kawakami fan, these cards will be important to your collection.

Size: JBR 14--2 11/16" x 4 3/16". JCM 31c Type 2--1 13/16" x 3".

Condition: Both cards are Ex/Mt to Nm, but the JCM 31c Type 2 card is off/centered left to right.