The Obscure Card of the Month is a tough international baseball issue
Articles
1881 O.J. Ramsdell Trade Cards An Early Cricket Set
This early cricket set is somewhat rare and often confused with baseball
Update on the National Sports Collectors Convention
Organizers for the National recently issued a statement about this year’s show
Six early golfers highlight the T218 Champions set
The T218 Champions set included some of the country’s best golfers
1890 N80 Duke Holidays Set Includes Sports and Americana
This bargain set is more than 100 years old and celebrates holidays and events around the world
Sports Intrigue Buried in the Duke N145 Actors and Actresses Set
What is this card and why is it so interesting?
Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley among the keys in the N28 Allen & Ginter Set
Cards for Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley are some of the more valuable cards in Allen and Ginter’s 1888 N28 tobacco card set
Diving Into the 1912 American Caramel Jockeys Set (E47) and 1888 Allen & Ginter Racing Colors Predecessor (N22)
The N22 Allen & Ginter Racing Colors of the World and E47 American Caramel Jockeys sets remain two of the most popular early horse racing sets
Skip the Blaster: Dave Bancroft 1925-27 W512 Strip Card
This month’s bargain buy is a Hall of Famer from one of the most popular 1920s strip card sets
Obscure Card of the Month: 1930s Amalgamated Press Champion Sports Wallet Dempsey / Carnera / Baer
The Obscure Card of the Month is a rare boxing card featuring the legendary Jack Dempsey
Editor’s Notes (April 2021)
Here’s a look at what’s happened around the industry and the Pre-War Cards site since last month
Following PSA suspension of services, SGC heavily raises card grading prices
As PSA introduces a suspension of many of its services, SGC significantly raises its prices
Citing heavy demand, PSA suspends most card submissions
PSA is suspending most of its submission level services
1907 A.C. Dietsche Postcards Envelope Sheds Some Light on the Series
Envelopes for the 1907 Dietsche Postcards set reveal a few details about the set
(More) Expansion Coming to Pre-War Cards
The next round of expansion on the site will see the addition of more sets in the database
Pre-War Cards Mailbag (March 2021)
This month’s mailbag tackles some reader questions on pre-war cards
1911 T36 Auto Drivers Set Featured Some of the Earliest Racing Cards
The T36 Auto Drivers set of tobacco cards is arguably the most popular pre-war auto racing series
New Discoveries in the 1922 T231 Fans Cigarettes Set
A major re-discovery by a collector leads to the checklisting of two new T231 Fans Cigarettes baseball cards
A Look at James Jeffries’ Two T218 Champions Cards
Hall of Fame boxer James Jeffries has two cards in the T218 Champions set — here’s an up close look at both, including pricing and rarity
1934 Hints on Association Football Set among only Chinese Pre-War Tobacco Sports Cards
The 1934 Hints on Association Football release is one of the few pre-war tobacco sports series to be issued in China
Reviewing Babe Ruth’s Two W515 Strip Cards
Only one player in the 1923 W515 strip card set is featured twice — Babe Ruth. Here’s a look at both of his cards.
SGC Follows PSA, Introduces Price Increase for Card Grading
Like PSA, SGC has raised its rates for grading cards
Who’s That Woman with Max Schmeling?
Many collectors familiar with the 1932 Bulgaria Sport set know of Max Schmeling’s card with Babe Ruth. But few know that the Hall of Fame boxer has a second card in the set.
In the Mail (March 2021)
Here’s a look at some of my recent pickups from the month of February
The Long and Winding Road of Stollwerck Chocolate Cards
Stollwerck Chocolate cards spanned more than a century and are, quite literally, all over the map
Skip the Blaster: Bucky Harris 1936 Goudey
This month’s Skip the Blaster card is from a popular gum card manufacturer and features a Hall of Famer
Obscure Card of the Month: 1920s W542 Hockey Strip Card
The Obscure Card of the Month is a rare hockey strip card
Editor’s Notes (March 2021)
Here’s a look at what’s happened around the industry and the Pre-War Cards site since last month.
eBay Modifies the Popular eBay Bucks Program
eBay is slashing its 1% reward earned on all purchases
PSA Raises Prices for Card Grading Services
PSA recently announced a major price hike this week
Rare Autographed Joe DiMaggio Zee-Nut Minor League Baseball Card Sells for $78,000
A rarely-seen minor league card signed by Joe DiMaggio was recently sold by Heritage
Authentic Grade Honus Wagner T206 Card Owned by Joe Garagiola Tops $2.5 Million
The price paid for the famous T206 Honus Wagner baseball card is a new record for the grade
The Misidentified Vogel Brothers 1882 Baseball Trade Card?
This rare baseball trade ‘card’ from the 19th century likely isn’t a card at all
Judy Garland ‘Rookie’ Card Found in 1939 Gallaher My Favourite Part Set
The first card of Judy Garland is gaining steam as an affordable (and important) non-sports cigarette card
A Review of Canceled Cards in the Rare 1890 Kimball Pretty Athletes Set
Here’s a look at canceled cards in the 1890 Kimball Pretty Athletes Set
Strike! Reviewing Two Rare 19th Century Bowling Trade Cards
Bowling cards aren’t easy to find in the pre-war era, but here’s a couple
W516 Strip Card Fun with a Hall of Famer, Pep Young, and an Actress
Here’s an abundantly cool wet sheet transfer linking W516 baseball cards with those of actors and actresses
In the Mail (February 2021)
Here’s a look at some of my pre-war card pickups from last month
The Colored Jockey: Isaac Murphy’s 19th Century Cards are Few and Far Between
Cards of 19th century African-American jockey Isaac Murphy are tough finds in Champions sets
The Number One Rule When Buying Raw Baseball Cards
Other than ensuring authenticity, there’s one big rule you should follow when buying raw cards with the intent of grading
How Many 19th Century Trade Cards Were Produced? A Lot.
This 19th century trade card tells us how many of this type were printed — and it’s a lot.
Obscure Card of the Month: McLaughlin’s XXXX Coffee Trade Card
The Obscure Card of the Month is a 19th century baseball trade issue or a coffee company
Editor’s Notes (February 2021)
Here’s a look at what’s happened around the industry and the Pre-War Cards site since last month.
Behold: The Women of the N184 Kimball Champions Set
Of the four 19th century champions sets, the N184 Kimball release was the one that included the most women — here’s a look at all five
Cy Young’s Confusing E90-1 American Caramel Cards
The Hall of Famer has two cards in the iconic set — and one is much rarer
Carl Hubbell’s 1932 Giants Postcard is a Hall of Fame Bargain
This postcard is not only one of Hubbell’s earliest cards, but also one of his cheapest
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit an Unlikely Key to W565 Strip Card Set
A pre-cursor to Mickey Mouse, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit has a card in the W565 strip card set — and it’s valuable
Recently Discovered Australian GOBLIN Merrymints Mel Ott Card Could be a Rookie
A new discovery of a previously unknown card of Mel Ott has surfaced
Skip the Blaster: 1880s He May Yet Become President Baseball Trade Card
Here’s a look at a great baseball trade card from the 1880s
Comparing Low Number and High Number 1938 Goudey Cards
There are two different types of 1938 Goudey cards — but which is rarer?
In the Mail: January 2021
Here’s a look at some of my more unique pickups from last month
Editor’s Notes (January 2021)
Here’s a look at what’s happened around the industry and the Pre-War Cards site since last month.
Obscure Card of the Month: c. 1910 Jules Macors Basketball Trade Card
The Obscure Card of the Month is a rare basketball trade card
A Look at Hank Greenberg’s Rookie Cards
Here’s a look at the rookie cards of Hank Greenberg
Top Five Combos in the 1941 Double Play Set
Ranking the top five player combinations in the 1941 Double Play baseball card set
2020 Pre-War Cards Year in Review
Here’s a look back at some of the happenings in pre-war cards in 2020
Ty Cobb 1913 ‘Sliding’ National Game and Barker Game Cards are Popular Targets
These game cards of Ty Cobb are among the Hall of Famer’s best buys
Reviewing the Sports in the 1925 A.C. Stereoview Set
Baseball, boxing, and golf are among the sports found in this unique 1920s set
Double Prints Exist in the 1923 German Transfers Set
Not many collectors know about this pre-war set — and even fewer know that three athletes were double printed
In the Mail: December 2020
Here’s a look at some of my more interesting pickups from last month
1912 J=K Candy Set Checklist Expands with New Discoveries
Ty Cobb and seven other uncatalogued cards from the rare J=K Candy set were recently added to the checklist after a major discovery
Skip the Blaster: 1939-46 Hank Greenberg Salutations Exhibit
This month’s bargain buy is a Hall of Famer in a relatively common set
Obscure Card of the Month: 1936 Allen’s Sports and Flags of Nations Baseball Card
The rare food card issue from the 1930s is a tough find
Fred Clarke ‘Pittsburgh’ Variation one of E90-1 American Caramel’s Tough Shortprints
Here’s a closer look at Fred Clarke’s rare E90-1 American Caramel Pittsburgh variation
Comparing Ty Cobb’s 1907 Dietsche Postcard ‘Rookies’
There are two Ty Cobb ‘rookie cards’ in the 1907 Dietsche Tigers set — but is one really a standalone issue?
1916 M101-4/M101-5 Mendelsohn Sets Among Pre-War’s Most Underrated
Here are six things that make the M101-4 and M101-5 baseball card sets iconic issues
In the Mail: November 2020
Here’s a look at some of my more unique pickups in the last two months
Skip the Blaster: 1912 Harry Davis T207
The Harry Davis T207 baseball card is a nice alternative to a modern blaster — here’s why
Editor’s Notes (November 2020)
Editorial notes and more Honus Wagner T206 madness
Obscure Card of the Month: 1934 Schutter Johnson I’m Going to be a Baseball Player
This is one of the few sports cards in a mostly non-sports 1930s gum card set
Honus Wagner T206 Baseball Card Sets (Another) Record
The record price for a PSA 1 graded Honus Wagner T206 baseball card has been shattered — only about two months after the last record-breaking sale
Key Sports in the 1893 Arbuckle Sports and Pastimes Set
Baseball and more is featured in this 19th century coffee card set
Studying the 19th Century Raphael Tuck and Sons Die-Cuts
Here’s a look at the sports die-cut cards produced by Raphael Tuck and Sons in the 19th century
The National Changes 2022 Location
The National Sports Collectors Convention has chosen a new home for the 2022 show
Honus Wagner T206 Baseball Card Sells for a New Record
This Honus Wagner T206 card just broke the card’s previous record
Skip the Blaster: Lefty O’Doul 1933 Goudeys
Lefty O’Doul’s 1933 Goudey cards are a great bargain
Editor’s Notes (October 2020)
Editorial notes and, yeah, let’s talk about that Mike Trout Superfractor
Obscure Card of the Month: 1927 Ogden ABC of Sport Umpire Card
The Obscure Card of the Month depicts the rough life of an umpire
A Rare Boxing Card — and the Longest Fight of All Time
This rare food card details the longest boxing match in history
End of an Era: The Demise of American Caramel Company and Their Final Set
1927 would mark the end of a long run for the American Caramel Company’s baseball cards
Documenting Basketball Cards from the First ‘Dream Team’
A few pre-war cards depict the first USA basketball team
He’s No. 1: Benny Bengough’s 1933 Goudey card remains popular
Bengough was an average player but his 1933 Goudey card is valuable because it’s the first one in the set
The Little-Known Baseball Players in the T218 Champions Set
Did you know the T218 Champions set has some baseball players after all?
Honus Wagner T206 PSA 1 Sells for Record Price
A low-grade Wagner T206 recently fetched over $1.1 million
In the Mail: September 2020
Here’s a look at recent pickups from August
Editor’s Notes (September 2020)
Here’s a look at everything that happened on the Pre-War Cards site last month, including new set additions
Obscure Card of the Month: T100 Honest Silhouettes Football Card
This early American football tobacco card is rarely seen or offered for sale
“Card Fiends” Trade Cards Depicted Early Collecting
This 19th century trade card set included cards that depicted early collecting
Unfinished Business: A Great Find of a 19th Century Card with an Incomplete Print Job
This 1890s trade card from a recent collection purchase has an interesting print anomaly
The False Rarity of the T201 Mecca Double Folders Lord/Dougherty Card
The Lord/Dougherty card in the T201 set is often described as a rarity — here’s why it isn’t
1896 Godfrey Phillips General Interest Set is Weird and Unbelievably Scarce
Cards in this small 19th century tobacco set are varied and nearly impossible to find
2020 National Sports Collectors Convention has been Canceled
This year’s National has been canceled due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus
“Fixing” The Confusing 1929 W560 Strip Card Set
The popular playing card style of strip cards has been a point of confusion for many years
A Look at Zee-Nut Baseball Cards Through the Years
Here’s a look at every type of Zee-Nut card ever produced
Additional Revelations on Baseball Trade Card No. 220
Taking a deeper look at a 19th century baseball trade card
1936 World Wide Gum Joe DiMaggio is a Canadian Gem
Joe DiMaggio’s most valuable rookie card happens to be one of the most valuable pre-war baseball cards of the era
Playing Crusoe: The Earliest Cigarette Card Game?
Children played many games with cigarette cards over the years — Crusoe might be the first one that caught on nationally
Like SGC and Beckett, PSA Continues to Experience Major Card Grading Delays
The popular third party grader is seeing major backups in grading cards
12th (and Final) Card Confirmed in H804-5 Trade Card Set
The final confirmed card in this 19th century trade issue completes the checklist
Obscure Card of the Month: 1935 R89 Gum, Inc. Mickey Mouse Hockey Card
This rare hockey card could be Mickey Mouse’s sports debut
