1930s Goudey and
National Chicle premiums are outstanding ways to obtain lower-cost
examples of some of the game's bigger names. The 1936-37 R314 Goudey
Wide Pen Premiums feature 3¼" by 5½" black & white photos printed on thin, glossy photo paper and have blank backs. Issued over a two year period, the unnumbered R314 photos were issued in five subsets.
Type IV consists of 36 photos
that were printed on creamy paper, without a "Litho in USA". Goudey
offered these Type IV point-of-purchase premiums in 1937, and this Joe DiMaggio "wide pen" would turn out to be one of the top prizes of the
underrated but beautiful photographic premium issue.
"Joltin' Joe" is the
subject of this example with wonderful centering. A young DiMaggio is seen smiling in
this striking image, with plenty of eye appeal in what is considered by
many to be a Rookie Card of this Yankee great and Hall of Famer. Rounded corners and soft edges are present, though the card's Authentic grade, as assigned by SGC, is due to color being added to the image. Nevertheless, the scarcity of this issue far outweighs any perceived cosmetic flaws on this example.
This is the only example of this Type IV 1936 Goudey Wide Pen of Joe DiMaggio which SGC has ever graded.