1928/1929 Stevens-Davis Men of America (H572) Set and Checklist
‘It’s In The Details’
| Title | Stevens-Davis Men of America Booklets (H572) |
| Year | 1928 and/or 1929 |
| Size | 2 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ |
| Images | Black and White |
| Type | Trade |
| Number in Set |
55 |
1928/1929 Stevens-Davis Men of America Overview
These interesting items were listed in the American Card Catalog as H572. As is the case with numerous listings in that book, these actually not trading cards, though. Instead, they are miniature booklets.
Produced by the Stevens-Davis Company in Chicago, the title explains a little about what they are. These are a booklets featuring some of the greatest men in the country up to the 1920s. Dating on these booklets vary with some sources citing them as a 1928 set while others claiming they are from 1929. These were created as a motivational tool for various companies to use with their employees. An employee gift box is known for them as well.
The booklets all have the same general design – a larger black and white image of the subject against a series of colorful backgrounds. There are some color variations known as well, which can make a master set tricky.
The booklets mostly comprise non-sports personalities, such as presidents, inventors, and businessmen. However, they are of interest here as a few depict those from the world of sports. One of the most popular booklets in the series is that of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Landis was a federal judge that became baseball’s first commissioner in the wake of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Depicting a cartoon scene of baseball players on the front, it is one of his few baseball issues. A second important figure is found on booklet No. 17. That one features Walter Camp, the father of modern football.
Arguably the most sought after, booklet No. 35 is also very important as it depicts American athletes. Hall of Fame golfer Bobby Jones is found on one cover side and baseball Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby is on the other. The inside of the booklet also pictures tennis Hall of Famer Bill Tilden, Penn/Navy college football, and swimmer Johnny Weismuller.
Variations
While 52 booklets is often the cited amount there are actually a total of 55 as three checklisted numbers have more than one variation.
There are No. 11 booklets for both Independence Day and Thomas Jefferson. Myles Standish and William Bradford are both No. 19. And Haley Fiske has two different variations – a portrait and a full body picture on booklet No. 42.
1928/1929 Stevens-Davis Men of America Checklist
- Teddy Roosevelt
- Thomas Edison
- John Pershing
- George Washington
- Charles Lindbergh
- Charles Schwab
- Ben Franklin
- Will Rogers
- Robert Dollar
- D.W. Brosman
- Independence Day and Thomas Jefferson
- Richard Byrd
- Alvin York
- Abraham Lincoln
- Luther Burbank
- Charles Steinmetz
- Walter Camp
- John Wanamaker
- Myles Standish and William Bradford
- Walter Gifford
- George Goethals
- George Dewey
- Gustavus Swift
- William Hoskins
- A.P. Giannini
- Owen Young
- George Westinghouse
- Orville Wright
- James Davis
- Russell Conwell
- Cyrus Curtis
- Douglas Fairbanks
- W.W. Atterbury
- Elbert Gary
- American Athletes
- Donald MacMillan
- Frank Woolworth
- Elbert Hubbard
- E.M. Statler
- John Patterson
- George Eastman
- Haley Fiske (two variations – full body pose and portrait)
- John McCutcheon
- W.M. Burton
- Calvin Coolidge
- Julius Rosenwald
- Harvey Firestone
- Alfred Sloan
- Kennesaw Mountain Landis
- Cecil De Bille
- Walter Head
- Henry Ford
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