Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

1937 Ripley’s Believe it or Not Overview

This set featured a bunch of cards with unique facts or myths. The set was distributed by Wolverine Gum and is cataloged as R21 in the American Card Catalog.

Printed in 1937, the cards featured colorful cartoon images, similar to a comic book style. An intriguing title was on the front and the back had an explanation of an interesting story or one that seemed too strange to be true. One card was packaged with Wolverine Gum for a price of one cent.

While mostly a non-sports set, this set included a pair of boxing cards. One was Card No. 24, identifying a boxer who died in a fight but still managed to win. Allegedly, he died from a blow but was not knocked out as the round ended before a ten count. He would go on to win as he dominated the rest of the rounds. The incident appears to have been true as it was reported in several newspapers.

Here’s more about that interesting story.

Card No. 34 featured the legendary John Sullivan. Sullivan is lauded for defeating the most  fighters. While both cards are desired by boxing fans, the Sullivan card is much more interesting for collectors. First, it features the legendary boxer and second, it is a high-number card. Cards numbered after No. 24 are rarer and harder to find.

Finally, wrappers for these cards, while rare, are still seen from time to time. The wrappers mention Wolverine’s Gum product as well as a special redemption offer. Collectors could send in ten wrappers for a unspecified prize.

1937 Ripley’s Believe it or Not Checklist

1. Greatest Swordsman
2. Cruise of the Skeletons
3. A Life-Saving Death Sentence
4. Trench of Bayonets
5. City of Mud-Eaters
6. Strangest Accident
7. Holy Scorpion Eater
8. Captain Manu’s Famous Swim
9. The Marooned Man
10. Most Amazing Airplane Accident
11. Man of Iron
12. The Greatest Cavalryman
13. Ghost Ship
14. Black Bart
15. Largest Tree in the World
16. Richest Man in the World
17. Captain Kidd was not a Pirate
18. Paul Revere did not Make the Famous Ride
19. Record in Cannibalism
20. Coldest Spot in the World
21. The Ship that Shot ITself
22. Scourge of God
23. The Man who Stubbed His Toe on $10,000,000,000
24. Dead Man Wins a Fight
25. A Most Unbelievable Animal
26. French Foreign Legion
27. Mighty Mites
28. Unarmed Officers of the Law
29. TBD
30. Strangest Fishing Accident
31. The Hanging Hindu
32. The Most Abject Surrender
33. 29 Horses Shot Under Him
34. The Great John L. (John Sullivan)
35. TBD
36. Academy of Poison
37. TBD
38. Tower of Skulls
39. A Miraculous Escape
40. Airplanes Pull Harder to Go Slower
41. TBD
42. Greater Love Hath No Man
43. Norseman’s Jump
44. River of Blood
45. Royal Freak
46. Lone Survivor
47. Mecca See no More
48. Faith Unto Death