1933 Uncle Jacks Candy Set (R317)

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	R317 Uncle Jacks Candy
Year	1933
Size	1 7/8″ x 2 7/8″
Images	Color
Type	Candy/Gum
Number in Set	30

1933 Uncle Jacks Candy Overview

The 1933 Uncle Jacks set is a rare issue with color tinted photos on the fronts and blank backs. The distributor was unknown when the American Card Catalog was printed but the cards were given the designation R317.

Today, the cards are considered among the rarer of the 1930s gum and candy card issues. That rarity is seen in the population reports among the three major grading companies. To date, PSA, SGC, and Beckett have not even combined to grade 200 of these cards in all. That rarity is somewhat explained as the set was only distributed regionally in the New England area.

While most 1930s gum cards were produced in full color, these ones are distinctive for their lack of that. Instead, the photos on the cards utilize a variety of single-color tints. A total of four different colors (red, green, blue, and purple) were used in their production.

With the exception of Tony Lazzeri and Ben Chapman, all cards have a vertical layout. Players appear in more than one color and each player likely is featured in all four colors. So while the set has 30 cards, the various tints for each player would provide for a master set of 120 cards.

Even though there are only 30 different players featured in the set, its rarity makes it incredibly difficult to even complete a basic set without the color variations. Approximately 2/3 of the set features Hall of Famers and the legendary Babe Ruth leads the way. Notably absent, however, is teammate Lou Gehrig.

A box of unopened packs of these cards was believed to have been discovered in the 1980s. The packs are, of course, incredibly rare, but some have been auctioned in the past. Packs were clear where a player’s card could be seen and the back included a coupon for a World Series contest. Today, even these coupons are sought after by collectors.

A Special Contest

The cards were distributed in wax paper wrappers with a coupon redeemable for a trip to the 1933 World Series. The wrappers are relative scarce but not impossible to find. The cards were regional and the contest was said to be for ‘New England’ boys.

Collecting 100 wrappers would give the consumer one league baseball and also enter them into the contest for the World Series trip. That contest wasn’t a drawing, however. The ten boys who sent in the most coupons up until September 15th were the winners.

Uncle Jacks’ offices were listed as 33 Lyman Street in Springfield, Massachusetts and Third Street in Newport, Rhode Island.