1937 Ripley’s Believe it or Not Set and Checklist (R21)
‘It’s In The Details’
Title | Ripley’s Believe it or Not (R21) |
Year | 1937 |
Size | 2 3/8″ x 2 7/8″ |
Images | Color |
Type | Candy/Gum |
Number in Set |
48 |
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
- Greatest Swordsman
- Cruise of the Skeletons
- A Life-Saving Death Sentence
- Trench of Bayonets
- City of Mud-Eaters
- Strangest Accident
- Holy Scorpion Eater
- Captain Manu’s Famous Swim
- The Marooned Man
- Most Amazing Airplane Accident
- Man of Iron
- The Greatest Cavalryman
- Ghost Ship
- Black Bart
- Largest Tree in the World
- Richest Man in the World
- Captain Kidd was not a Pirate
- Paul Revere did not Make the Famous Ride
- Record in Cannibalism
- Coldest Spot in the World
- The Ship that Shot ITself
- Scourge of God
- The Man who Stubbed His Toe on $10,000,000,000
- Dead Man Wins a Fight
- A Most Unbelievable Animal
- French Foreign Legion
- Mighty Mites
- Unarmed Officers of the Law
- TBD
- Strangest Fishing Accident
- The Hanging Hindu
- The Most Abject Surrender
- 29 Horses Shot Under Him
- The Great John L. (John Sullivan)
- TBD
- Academy of Poison
- TBD
- Tower of Skulls
- A Miraculous Escape
- Airplanes Pull Harder to Go Slower
- TBD
- Greater Love Hath No Man
- Norseman’s Jump
- River of Blood
- Royal Freak
- Lone Survivor
- Mecca See no More
- Faith Unto Death
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