1912 How to Keep Fit Set and Checklist

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	How to Keep Fit
Year	1912
Size	1 3/8″ x 2 5/8″
Images	Color
Type	Tobacco
Number in Set	25

1912 How to Keep Fit Set Overview

This was a 20th century tobacco card issue that focused on exercise and bodybuilding.

The set is one of the more notable ones of its kind because they did not feature generic subjects, as most of these types of issues tended to do. Instead, the cards pictured famous bodybuilder and strongman Eugen Sandow. Sandow performed in the circus before becoming a professional bodybuilder. Because the set is tied to Sandow, the cards are more desirable than other similar sets of cards focusing on exercise.

The set is sometimes called a Major Drapkin tobacco set while other times, it is called a Crayol Cigarettes set. But the reality is that either name fits just fine, depending on the cards. Major Drapkin was the tobacco company issuing Drapkin’s Cigarettes and Crayol Cigarettes. A set of these cards was made for each brand — thus, some of the cards bear the Drapkin’s Cigarettes name and others, the Crayol Cigarettes name. Collectors can refer to either of those sets but the ‘overall’ set name is probably best identified as the Major Drapkin & Co. set.

The cards are the same in both sets, including the card numbers. The Crayol cards appear to be the ones more commonly found, though not much of a premium is paid for the rarer Drapkin Cigarettes cards. All cards in the set typically start in the $5-$10 range in low-grade condition.

Fronts of the cards depict Sandow in a variety of exercise poses. Half of the set pictures Sandow working with a contraption referred to as ‘The Developer.’ The other half depicts Sandow utilizing dumb bells. A total of 25 cards were issued as part of the set. Fronts also include Sandow’s name in red print, the How to Keep Fit name, and a banner with either the Drapkin’s or Crayol name.

Backs repeat the specific brand name and all cards have the Major Drapkin & Co. name at the bottom. The rest of the back is dedicated to a description of the activity shown on the front.