Rogers Peet was a men’s clothier that lasted in business for over 100 years. In the 1930s, the company turned to the world of sports cards to help promote its business. Here’s a look at the rare 1930s Rogers Peet card set.
1930s Rogers Peet Set Basics
Established in 1874, Rogers Peet was a popular men’s clothing store. The company was quite successful, lasting in business for more than a century. The last store in New York reportedly closed in the mid 1980s. While many stores at the time of their opening would haggle with customers, Rogers Peet stores apparently didn’t engage in that practice, instead using price tags to sell clothing at a flat rate. Rogers Peet clothing continues to live on and you can still find examples of it on eBay.
The exact date of the 1930s Rogers Peet cards aren’t known but they are believed to be a 1930s issue. Some, however, attribute it to being a 1929 set. The cards have an extremely basic appeal with a black and white picture on the fronts with a player’s name and card number at the bottom. Backs of the cards are entirely blank. Goldin Auctions says the cards were distributed by the company’s Boston and New York stores, although the exact mode of how customers received them isn’t known.
A total of 48 cards are in the set but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to complete.
1930s Rogers Peet Subjects
The 1933 Goudey Sport Kings cards are generally considered to be the king of the multi-sport sets from the 1930s but the Rogers Peet cards followed that model, too. Of most interest to collectors are the baseball, football, and hockey cards. Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, and Rogers Hornsby highlight the offering of eight baseball cards.
Football legend Red Grange and hockey Hall of Famer Lionel Conacher are a couple of other heavily desired cards. However, aside from the big three sports represented, there are a few other notables. First, boxing greats Jack Dempsey, Max Schmeling, and Gene Tunney are all included. Also found in the set is golf legend Bobby Jones and tennis great Bill Tilden, among others.
An album was also produced for the set, which collectors then affixed their cards. Since many were glued into the albums and subsequently removed, these can be found with glue residue on the backs.
1930s Rogers Peet Prices
The Rogers Peet cards are as pricey as you’d expect for a rare 1930s issue. Commons from lesser sports can be found at under $100 but most of the key cards cards are north of that figure. A lower-end Conacher in PSA 3 grade fetched more than $150 at auction and other baseball, football or basketball cards will generally start around that price. Bigger names, of course, are significantly more, dependent upon grade and condition. A near-mint graded Ruth sold for nearly $4,000 in 2013.
The cards are difficult to find but you can see a few on eBay by clicking here.
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