Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	Blue Bird Soda Blotter
Year	1920s
Size	3″ x 6″
Images	Black and White
Type	Trade
Number in Set	1

1920s Blue Bird Soda Blotter Overview

Ink blotters were generally rectangular cards that were popular in the days of fountain pens. They would usually be kept on desks and were used to allow people to wipe off excess ink. To properly absorb the ink, blotters are generally a little thicker and have a different texture than traditional cards.

This blotter was an advertisement for Blue Bird Soda. Blue Bird actually used these to announce a specific promotion. Children could mail in 29 Blue Bird bottle caps along with $1.29 to receive a Wilson Major League baseball glove. 29 caps and $.89 would get the child an official league ball – the same type used in the major leagues. On the card is a young baseball player with a ball and glove in full uniform drinking the soda.

Blue Bird Soda, of course, is familiar to some pre-war collectors. In 1933, they issued a two-card set of Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.

While not standard trading cards, blotters with sports figures are absolutely collectible. Because they were used to absorb extra ink, you will often find them with ink spots all over them. Ones that haven’t been covered in ink demand a premium.

Blotters were generally an advertisement for a specific product, service, or organization. Along with a picture of a sports figure or team, they usually sought to promote some type of product or business.

1920s Blue Bird Soda Blotter Checklist

This is a standalone issue and not part of a set.

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