Colored Silks S74-2
Colored Silks, called S74-2, were folded and distributed in cigarette packs like their counterpart White Silks . The Colored Silks did not have an advertising back. Instead the advertisement was printed on the bottom of the silk and the factory designation printed on the top of the silk. Without the paper back the manufacturing process included a heat sealing method to prevent the fabric from unraveling or fraying.
The example here of Fred Clarke shows the seal predominantly on both the top and bottom . It also shows the very beginning of the unwinding or fraying process. This silk has a green-blue background color with a Red color ink printing. We believe that the Colored silk printing was conducted in similar fashion to the White Silks with a Blue , Brown and a Red Color ink. The “red” ink is dark rust in color and with some expected variation it is unclear if the brown ink from the White Version Silks was used at all. We will leave that open for opinion. The examples below of Byrne and Wilson show what appears to be blue and red ink respectively. Unlike the White Silks that clearly showed the color inks against a creamy white background the Colored Silks are much more difficult to read due to the presence of color already in the body of the silk. Although the printing looks brown on the Wilson silk it still may be a variation of the red ink which at times looks very similar to brown ink.
How the Colored silks were printed with such accuracy raises a question. Below are 3 proofs of Colored Silks which were smaller and printed with paper backing. An interesting side note here is Kling is pictured on Chicago meaning these proofs (and Colored Silks) would have to have begun production after Kling was traded to the Cubs on June 10 1911.
Another interesting Colored Silk we have found pictures Mullin Detroit with the paper back attached top and bottom at the spot where the silk is heat sealed. This colored silk is a variation of off white and different than any of the other silks we have seen. The printing is a striking red. There are also no folds front or back on this silk. It is just speculation but we believe that Colored Silks were printed with some sort of backing to create stability that was meant to be removed before inserting into the cigaretted packs.
The question persists of how many different color variations exist for S74-2 Silks? The answer is subjective. It is likely there was color variation in the manufacturing process. Time and the elements also have an effect on lightening or changing the color. What we have done is take approximately 100 silks and separated them by color. Almost all fit into a distinct color hue with at least 5 that have identical or very similar colors. The most prevalent are the two below, Green-Blue and Pink.
Green Blue
Pink
Other prominent colors are shades of Gold and Orange.
Yellow Gold
Gold
Light Orange
Dark Orange
Off-White Bone
Off-White Peach
Bronze
Tan
Purple
Blue
Red
Yellow Green
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