Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	R303 Goudey Premiums
Year	1939
Size	Varies
Images	Varies
Type	Candy/Gum
Number in Set	96

R303 Goudey Premiums Overview

The 1939 R303 Goudey Premiums, often called the ‘How to’ set, showed collectors how to do certain baseball-related things. Like Goudey’s other 1930s premiums, these are more photographs than they are traditional baseball cards.

Fronts included a player image and replica signature while the backs had the ‘How to’ instructions. These can be found with either a black and white, brown, or reddish tone and some collectors break these into three different sets based on the color of the photo.

The first type of set is a sepia-style color and measures about 4″ x 6″. The second set has a reddish tint and is closer to 5″ x 7″. The third set is the same size, but in black and white. They are typically referred to as 303-A (smaller sepia photos), 303-B (red-tinted larger photos), and 303-C (black and white larger photos).

The cards are paper thin and easily torn/damaged.

Backs

While the backs state they were manufactured by Goudey in Boston, Massachusetts, they also include the Diamond Stars Gum name.

The reverse is what makes this series unique. As mentioned, a series of tips are provided for collectors. Each card features a specific tip and is played out using a series of diagrams with an explanation for each drawing.

Follow Pre-War Cards on Twitter and also be sure to like our page on Facebook.