1887 Lorillard’s Mechanics Delight Set and Checklist (N269)

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	Lorillard’s Mechanics Delight
Year	1887
Size	2 3/8″ x 3 3/4″
Images	Sepia
Type	19th Century Tobacco
Number in Set	51

1887 Lorillard’s Mechanics Delight Set Overview

N269 09 Jack McAuliffe.jpg These incredible set of 19th Century boxing cards was issued in 1887 by Lorillard’s Mechanics Delight long cut tobacco products. Even the advertising slogan for the cards had a boxing theme, stating that Lorillard’s tobacco ‘has an unbeaten record.’

It is a 50-card set that is significantly larger counting all of the known variations, such as light color tinting differences on the pictures as well as identifying print at the bottom (that print is sometimes present in the lower border area and other times, left off).

Lithography for the set was by Ballin & Liebler, located on Park Place in New York. Boxers are depicted either looking off to the left or the right.

The set is headlined by two cards of John Sullivan and also found in the set is the ‘other’ Jack Dempsey, Nonpareil Dempsey.

The creator must have liked the idea of giving John Sullivan another card but still keeping the set to 50 advertised cards. While Sullivan has to different poses in the set, both are No. 17. One pose has Sullivan facing more towards the front than the other, which shows his head completely sideways.

Backs of the cards have a history of the fighter’s performances making them somewhat unique compared other issues.