Are these 1939 jerseys originals?

The listings come straight from eBay, so both turn up: jerseys made in 1939 and licensed throwbacks printed recently. Check the maker's tag first.

How do I spot a reproduction 1939 jersey?

A Mitchell & Ness or Hardwood Classics tag means a licensed reproduction. Ask the seller for photos of the neck tag and wash tag, and match the maker to the year. Know the limit of the tag check: counterfeits copy the correct maker tag, so lean on price. Real vintage does not sell far below every comparable listing, and a game-worn jersey priced like a t-shirt is neither.

1939NFL Jerseys

NFL jerseys from the 1939 season, pulled from eBay as listings change. Replicas, throwbacks, and the occasional game-worn shirt.

All NBA NFL MLB NHL Soccer Rugby Cricket Wrestling Olympics College

FindJerseys·Jackets·Caps·Tees·PennantsBudgetAny·To $50·To $100·To $250·$250+ShowAll·Era originals

As an eBay Partner, YearJersey may earn from qualifying purchases.

1939 Davey O'Brien, "Heisman Winner Tries on NFL Jersey for First Time" Photo

Seller 99.8% positive · 13.4k

$49.95View on eBay ›

Close to 1939: the 1938 season

eBay is thin on 1939 NFL right now. These are 1938 listings, one season over, labeled so you know what you're looking at.

Used

STALL & DEAN JERSEY CITY GIANTS #51 FOOTBALL JERSEY Circa 1938 2XL

Seller 100% positive · 414

$100.00View on eBay ›

Close to 1939: the 1940 season

eBay is thin on 1939 NFL right now. These are 1940 listings, one season over, labeled so you know what you're looking at.

Used

BRIAN URLACHER Chicago Bears Reebok Authentic Jersey 52 XL Alternate NFL 1940s

Seller 95% positive · 159

$315.00View on eBay ›

Used

Pittsburgh Steelers # 92 HARRISON NFL NIKE 80 SEASONS JERSEY 1933 - 2012 Sz 40

Seller 100% positive · 3.4k

$75.00View on eBay ›

The jersey wire

Hunting a 1939 NFL jersey? One sharp email a week with the best new finds for your year, and nothing else. Unsubscribe in one click. Privacy

Original or reproduction?

These are live eBay listings, so "1939" in a title can mean two things: a jersey made in 1939, or a throwback printed last month. The first thing to check is the maker's tag against who was actually making jerseys then.

The full NFL dating guide: tags, patches and fakes, season by season ›

Not sure what era this is? Pick the detail you can see ›

A Mitchell & Ness or Hardwood Classics tag means a licensed reproduction. A fine gift, not a 1939 original.
Ask the seller for photos of the neck tag and the wash tag. Logos, fonts and fabric should match the era.
The tag check has a limit: counterfeits copy the correct maker tag too. Price is the signal that scales. Real vintage doesn't sell far below every comparable listing, and a game-worn jersey priced like a t-shirt is neither.
The Era originals filter above hides listings that are newly made by their own description: multi-size runs, custom name and number offers, reproduction brands. What survives isn't guaranteed original. A one-off fake in a single size with the right tag passes every check a listing allows, which is exactly why seller photos and feedback still matter.