1937 Donut Corporation of America Thrilling Moments Set (D146)

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

It’s in the Details

Title	D146 Donut / Doughnut Corporation of America Thrilling Moments
Year	1937
Size	1 15/16″ x 3″
Images	Black and White
Type	Bakery
Number in Set	72

1937 Donut / Doughnut Corporation of America Thrilling Moments Overview

This unique set was produced in 1937 by the Donut (or Doughnut) Corporation of America.

Cards were printed directly on the company’s doughnut boxes and feature both sports and non-sports personalities. The full, formal name of the set is “Thrilling Moments in the Lives of Famous Americans” and the issue included a total of 72 cards.

Because they are hand cut from the boxes, you will find these cards in a variety of sizes. Standard-sized cards, however, are typically just under 2″ x 3″ if cut properly. But it is not uncommon to find these cards with the titles/descriptions cut off from the bottom, leaving only a picture. Because of that, premiums exist for well-cut cards that retain most of the intended size.

Images are presented in black ink various colored backgrounds. A title is displayed at the bottom and the backs are completely blank. Cards were printed in panels of 18 so four of them would make up an entire set.

Many famous Americans are featured in the set, but the sports cards are the keys. About 20 cards in total represent sports, if you include aviation. For sports collectors, the issue is anchored by baseball star Babe Ruth and football legends Red Grange and Knute Rockne. Boxing champions Jack Dempsey and John Sullivan are included here, too.

That two football players and only one baseball player was included is interesting. With pro football still a developing game at the time, baseball is generally the more prominent of the two sports displayed in pre-war multi-sport issues. Bobby Jones (golf) and Bill Tilden (tennis) are also key cards found in the set. Other popular athletes include famous aviators Amelia Earhart and the Wright brothers.

In terms of non-sports personalities, former presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt are in the set as well, as are other historical subjects, such as Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Edison.

In addition to the cards, an also album exists. That allowed collectors to glue their cards into a book for safe keeping so these cards can be found with glue residue on the backs if they were removed from the book (a common occurrence). The album measures approximately 10″ wide by 15″ tall. In addition for the spaces for the cards, the album included a larger biography for each subject.

Unfortunately, the names of the subjects are not included on the front or back. Instead, they are only identified through the album.