Pre-War Cards

Collectors will find numerous track and field cards in the pre-war era. While a large amount of these were international issues, track and field cards are found in American-based sets, too, including the popular T218 Champions set.

Cards of do-it-all athlete Jim Thorpe are among the most valuable of track and field issues. However, cards of the legendary Jesse Owens have surged in value and his early cards can cost hundreds of dollars and, in some cases of high-grade examples, thousands.

While those cards are found in the 20th century, however, 19th century track and field cards are popular, too. The sport is represented in the Champions sets from Allen & Ginter, Kimball, and Goodwin tobacco brands, and also seen on 19th century trade cards.

Due to the overwhelming number of track and field sets, only sets listed in the American Card Catalog, as well as some other uncataloged popular issues with a large amount of track and field cards, are listed below. Due to his popularity, pre-war sets with Jesse Owens are also cataloged here.

Sets

1936 Alfa Olympics	1932 Astra Margarine	1932 Bulgaria Sport-Photos
1910 Champion Athletes (C52)	1939 Churchman Kings of Speed	1930s Cloetta / Cloetta Ross
1934/1935 Deutscher Sport (Bulgaria, Jasmatzi, Josetti, Salem)	1926-36 Greiling	1936 Muhlen Franck Olympia
1909-10 Murad College Series (T51)	1935-36 Muratti Cigarettes	1910 National Licorice Champion Athletes (D353/E229)
1937 Ogden Champions of 1936	1901 Ogden Tabs Leading Athletes	1936 Olympiade (Lodix, Sigella, Sidol)
1913 Pan Handle Scrap World’s Champion Athletes (T230)	1936 Pet Cremer Olympia	1932 Reemtsma Cigarettes Olympia
1936 Reemtsma Olympia	1932 Sanella Margarine	1910-12 T218 Champions (Honest, Mecca, Tolstoi)

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