They appear as fresh and new as they did 125 years ago; die-cut portraits of some of the most famous names who dotted professional rosters in a relatively new game called baseball. It would be newsworthy if a fresh discovery of these rare 19th century baseball cards had surfaced in any condition. However on November 30, Memory Lane will begin taking bids on several lots of 1888 Scrapps cards that are not only in pristine condition but feature never before seen groups of uncut pairs as they were originally distributed.
The rare items were consigned to the auction company by a family in central California and are expected to generate intense interest among vintage baseball card collectors.
The origin of the embossed chromolithographic cards has never been pinned down, but it’s believed they were issued for placement in a collector’s book or scrapbook. Players from the National League’s Detroit Wolverines and the American Association St. Louis Browns are featured on the approximately 2” x 3” cards. There were a total of 18 known baseball 
players issued as well as other notable figures of the day. Colorful and eye-catching, they picture artist’s depictions of players in bust-type cutouts. Players are shown in the old style striped caps and tie-up jerseys used at the time.
What makes this find unique is that three of the lots consist of dual player uncut panels: Ned Hanlon/Sam Thompson, Robert Caruthers/Curtis Welch and William Robinson/William Gleason. A fourth features president Grover Cleveland and three members of his cabinet. Scrapps cards have rarely if ever been seen in uncut form, with tabs attached, and the three lots shed a little more light on how the cards were distributed. “H&S” is printed on one of the tabs.
Several single Scrapps cards are also in this find including examples of Charles Comiskey and Doc Bushong. There are a total of 18 cards in the lots. See some of them in the gallery below along with examples of Scrapps single cards now available on eBay.
Several other significant, newly discovered vintage cards and memorabilia pieces are being offered in ‘The Find’ auction. Details on those lots, some centered around Babe Ruth, will be released in the coming days.
Bidding opens November 30 and will close December 15. For a free auction catalog and to register for bidding, visit MemoryLaneInc.com or call (877) 606-5263.
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[…] The find of 1888 Scrapps cards was amazing on its own and I hate to be a tease, but I can tell you that there are a few other remarkable items in Memory Lane's upcoming auction including one that probably never thought possible. It'll leave you shaking your head. […]