1999 Rick Rush "Hit and Run" Art Print Vignettes

 Manufacturer: Rick Rush

Card Set: Hit and Run

Year:  1999

 Type:Vignette

Serial Number 979/5000

A few years back I went a little crazy picking up different Yount collectibles. I had hit a wall with the cards at the time and I set my sites on other things like art prints and pins. One of the cool things I picked up was this Rick Rush Vignette. Rick is still producing great sports art and you can visit his website here.

The print comes with a nice folio. Here's the cover.

 The inside flap features a photo and bio of Rick Rush

Also Included was this Limited Edition Certificate and The Hit and Run write up.  

There are other more limited editions. There is the limited Serigraph that had an issue of 190, Rick's Price guide on his website lists those at worth about $3000 now.  There is his Millenium Series with 1000 issued and worth about $60.  The one I have is part of the Vignette release, numbered to 5000 and worth about $30.

I also have found that the original oil painting is being offered on ebay for $7500. You can view that auction here

One of these days I'll have a proper man cave and be able to frame and hang a lot of this stuff.  Still a great looking piece and really affordable. You can still find these on ebay, although the one up right now is a little pricey for the Vignette.

1990 Bowman Lithograph

Card Manufacturer: Topps

Card Set: Bowman Lithographs

Year: 1990

Card Number:NNO

Card Type: Lithograph

Serial numbered: 222/500

Ah the good old 1990 Bowman Art sweepstakes insert.  Back in 1990 when you bought a pack of the second year of the new Bowman you got one of these art card inserts, that were really just an entry form into a sweepstakes for a set of art lithographs of all 11 of the players featured on the lithographs.  I was able to pick up this signed and numbered example a few years back. I have no idea what I paid for it, but I know it wasn't too expensive.  Craig Pursley was the artist that did the paintings. Here is an interview with the artist as he tells the story of the paintings and the giveaway.

Supposedly there were 500 sets produced for the contest and another 500 produced for distribution to hobby shops.  There seems to be some confusion to whether or not the hobby shop sets were signed or numbered at all. Craig seems to remember that all the lithos were signed, but only the contest sets were numbered.  So it appears I have a contest litho. And if I remember correctly the seller of this litho stated he had won the set back in 1990.

Craig Pursley is still cranking out art although it doesn't look like he specializes in sports over any other subject and looks like he does a lot of portraits. You can visit his website HERE.

Below we have one of the original art contest cards. There are two versions of this card too, with a tiffany version inserted with the Bowman Tiffany sets.