1934 Blue Valley Butter Blotter / Trade Card

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	Blue Valley Butter Blotter / Trade Card
Year	1934
Size	3 5/8″ x 8″
Images	Color
Type	Food
Number in Set	1

1934 Blue Valley Butter Blotter / Trade Card Overview

These long rectangular cards are actually ink blotters for Blue Valley Butter, even though they are sometimes referred to as trade cards. Blue Valley Butter was a product of the Blue Valley Creamery Company and, as stated on the cards at the bottom, these were produced in 1934.

The card features a classic baseball scene, complete with a batter, catcher, and a third player rallying, ‘Get in the Game!’ Off to the side are two girls watching, one with a bat. All of the children are wearing white and blue Blue Valley uniforms.

The ‘game’ is being played in what looks to be an open field with a billboard prominently displayed with an advertisement for Blue Valley Butter, citing it as ‘Fresh’, ‘Clean’, and with a ‘Finer Flavor.’

The cards are not incredibly rare but aren’t plentiful, either. And because they are ink blotters, they are often found damaged with ink spots on them.

Chicago Cubs?

The blotter has a very indirect, loose relationship with the Chicago Cubs, even if the Cubs are not named or pictured.

As mentioned, these blotters have a 1934 copyright date. Blue Valley Butter was an apparent sponsor of the Cubs, appearing on their 1934 scorecards. The company was featured prominently on at least some of their scorecards that season and the front cover of those depict the same scene used on these blotters with a slight modification.

The batter and catcher appear to be the same. However, the image is square in shape instead of rectangular. The two children in the background are missing and the boy standing to the right yelling is replaced by a girl on the scorecard.