We mostly refer to the boom of the American tobacco cards as coming in the early 1900s. Numerous sets were produced in the 1909-12 time period. However, the start of the cards actually came much earlier than that. The 1880s is where most cigarette cards got their beginnings. But despite being very popular with collectors, tobacco companies were very interested in cutting … [Read more...]
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A Young Jackie Robinson Appears on Two 1940s Cigarette Cards
In the pre-war era, cigarette cards were all the rage. They not only featured baseball players but plenty of other subjects as well. These cards were highly collected around the world and were mostly included inside packages of cigarettes. Cigarette cards continued to be produced at high levels in Europe and around the world well into the 1930s. However, American baseball … [Read more...]
Reach of T227 Champions Set Extended Beyond Baseball
The T227 Champions set is one of the earliest notable multi-sport tobacco issues of the 20th century. Issued in 1912, the series included various 'champion' athletes in their respective sports. Tobacco advertisers on the backs included both Honest Long Cut and Miners Extra. While most of the athletes featured were those participating in individual sports, some were a part of … [Read more...]
Missing Stars from the T201 Mecca Double Folders Set
The T201 Mecca Double Folders set was interactive, long before the term came into vogue. Each card featured two players with a long vertical image of one on one side and the top of of a second on the other. The cards had a factory 'fold' and when the top half was folded down, the second player's upper body would be displayed against the same lower body of the player on the … [Read more...]
Chasing Tobacco: Winding Down (Part III of III)
This is the final part of a three-part series covering the early history of tobacco cards from the pre-war era. In Part I and Part II of this series, I reviewed the earliest tobacco cards from the 1800s as well as tobacco cards produced from the boom of 1909-11. While tobacco cards remained popular internationally for decades to come, American tobacco cards featuring … [Read more...]
Chasing Tobacco: Boom of the 1909-11 Years (Part II of III)
This three-part series will take a look at the early history of tobacco cards from the pre-war era. In Part I of this series, I reviewed the earliest tobacco cards from the 1800s. Part II will take a look at the height of the tobacco card era. More specifically, we'll cover the sets from the 1909-11 time period. At the turn of the century, it took a while for tobacco … [Read more...]
Chasing Tobacco: The Early Years (Part I of III)
This three-part series will take a look at the early history of tobacco cards from the pre-war era. It is often said that the earliest baseball cards were trade card issues. While that is technically correct, the hobby really started growing its roots in the era of tobacco cards. Tobacco cards featuring baseball players generally got their start in the 1880s. While we … [Read more...]
Rare 1939 African Tobacco World of Sport Set Features Babe Ruth
The 1939 African Tobacco World of Sport set is proof that tobacco cards spanned the entire globe. Not many tobacco card sets featuring baseball are found from Africa, but this one is an exception. Truth be told, the 1939 African Tobacco World of Sport set is a multi-sport issue with little baseball in it. That is relatively common with international tobacco sets as baseball … [Read more...]
Notes: Studebaker to Join Beckett; Tobacco Pack Breaks Planned; Big Bucks for Brady (Again); Baseball Card Bar Top
SGC Senior Autograph Authenticator Larry Studebaker is joining Beckett Authentication Services. A source confirmed to us Tuesday night that Studebaker is expected to start his new job as an authenticator for BAS in April. He had been working for SGC since 2013. Beckett opened its autograph authentication business in the fall of 2016, led by former PSA … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Card Collecting ‘Fad’ Outlasted Expectations
While it is difficult today to imagine a world without card collecting, it is worth noting that not all believed the hobby would be around for the long haul. An early newspaper article demonstrates that belief. In the early 1900s, tobacco card collecting was getting to become quite popular. An article appearing in the September 15, 1910 Pottsville Republican newspaper made … [Read more...]
