Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	223. Boy Sitting and Reading Trade Card
Year	Unknown
Size	2 7/8″ x 4 1/2″
Images	Color
Type	Trade
Number in Set	Unknown

223. Boy Sitting and Reading Trade Card Overview

This was a trade card that featured a modest baseball scene. These cards, like most trade cards, carry a variety of advertiser names and print either on the front of the back of the card. Unused ones with blank backs and no advertiser name are also known.

The card is understated and only nominally a baseball issue. Pictured is  boy sitting and reading in a blue uniform. Next to him is a baseball bat and a pair of baseballs.

Of note is that, while the card is usually cited as a standalone issue, that is not be the case. Similar trade cards observed have the same layout of a thin blueish/gray border and with a similar theme of branches or plants growing in the background.

Given the rest of the cards in the set, the argument can even be made that this is not a true baseball or sports card. Other cards in the set picture children sitting and relaxing and even the baseball card is only moderately one at that.

This card was numbered separately by noted trade card collector Frank Keetz in his book, “Baseball Advertising Trade Cards, 3rd Edition.” It was a trade card he identified but did not have a printed title on it. Because of that, he catalogued it with a number instead, which is the number in the title shown here.

223. Boy Sitting and Reading Trade Card Checklist

While other non-sports cards are known in this set, the card with the baseball bat is the only known sports-themed card.

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