What was Zee-Nut?

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Pre-War Cards

Many collectors have heard of Zee-Nut cards but don’t know anything about the product — or that a song was created for it

Zee-Nut cards are by far the most complex minor league issue in the pre-war era. Issued from 1911 through 1938, there are more than 3,000 of these cards and many are quite rare. I’ve never seen a complete checklist and with many cards having so few examples, I’m not even sure one exists.

Many of the cards came printed with a coupon. This coupon has been torn off of many of the cards, creating a premium for cards that have them. Those are more valuable than the cards missing the coupon.

The cards featured Pacific Coast League Players and were produced by California-based Collins-McCarthy Candy Company. That name might sound familiar as that group produced some other cards as well, including the 1917 Collins-McCarthy cards (E135) and the 1912 Home Run Kisses cards (E136).

The popular confectionery company made several products, including Zee-Nut. But what was Zee-Nut?

Zee-Nut sounds a bit like Cracker Jack. The product was not candy, per se, even if it was marketed in such a way. Rather, it was a mixture of popcorn, peanuts, and coconuts. But, as this picture shows, it clearly was not too similar to the loose Cracker Jack product in that it was shaped like a large candy bar of sorts. The bar was sold for five cents.

You imagine most early candy products were advertised for children. However, Zee-Nut was not solely marketed towards kids. It was said to be for children, young adults, and even the ‘old folks.’ Their slogan was, “Gee! But it’s Good.”

Zee-Nut even had a song published in 1908 that went like this:

In the beautiful city of angels, known as Los Angeles, Cal.
There’s a chap at 420 South Broadway whom all the folks greet as a pal
He’s a species of real benefactor
For five cents he gives value galore
As he puts up a product called Zee-Nut
Which makes for him friends by the score
Zee-Nut, Zee-Nut, Gee! But it’s good, is the Zee-Nut
Every one likes it and long before
An hour has passed they will cry for more
Zee-Nut, Zee-Nut, Gee! But it’s great, is this Zee-Nut
Coconut, popcorn, peanuts and sweets
The ideal confection is Zee-Nut

Now this chap is a great advertiser
He says there is nothing that’s made
That’s more healthy, more pure delicious
Than Zee-Nut so he’s not afraid
To spend his good dollars by thousands to publish the news far and wide
So get in the game and eat Zee-Nut, a nickel is all that’s required
Zee-Nut, Zee-Nut, Gee! But it’s good, is the Zee-Nut
Every one likes it and long before
An hour has passed they will cry for more
Zee-Nut, Zee-Nut, Gee! But it’s great, is this Zee-Nut
Coconut, popcorn, peanuts and sweets
The ideal confection is Zee-Nut

Actual sheet music for the song exists so a musician could actually play the song today if he/she happened to like particularly bad music. And, oddly enough, since sheet music is one of those odd items cataloged by the American Card Catalog, it could have a designation just as the cards do.

Always great to tie old products to cards.