A Boy and his Cards

If you could ask any boy who grew up in 20th century America to turn out his pockets, among the bits of string, lucky rocks and grimy coins you’re bound to see a bundle [...] Click here to continue reading.]]> Tobacco Baseball Cards 1897-1911

The combination of two great American past times, baseball & smoking join forces to create collectible tobacco baseball cards that have been a popular commodity since their introduction in 1887.

A Boy and his Cards

If you could ask any boy who grew up in 20th century America to turn out his pockets, among the bits of string, lucky rocks and grimy coins you’re bound to see a bundle of baseball cards; dog eared and well-thumbed, separated by teams, favorite up front, doubles in the back. Baseball cards have been eagerly sought since the first tobacco company issued the first ten cards in 1887. Card collectors have more than value in mind. There’s a sentimental attachment; the ability of certain cards to carry their owners back to summer nights under the lights, or dusty days shagging flies. Baseball card collectors just plain LOVE their cards, as Associated Press Correspondent Warren Levinson put it when his sister accidentally threw away his cards, “I hope someday to forget because I can’t possibly forgive.”

Tobacco Cards

From 1898 until 1911, baseball cards were premiums offered exclusively by tobacco companies. A large number of companies issued series of cards with their products to stimulate sales. Sometimes, the cards depicted sports heroes, only some of whom were baseball players. Here’s a brief history of the most common tobacco cards.

An Allen & Ginter tobacco card, 1887, John Clarkson, p4A item D9852967

Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887- The very first set of 50 chromolithograph trading cards, only 10 of which were ball players.

Old Judge Cigarette Factory- Old Judges are sepia toned albumen photographs mounted on cardboard. No one has any idea how many players were issued, but at least 2,400 are known.

Newsboy Cabinets 1888- Newsboy Cut Plug Tobacco Brand. Newsboy issued 800 sepia toned photo cards, mostly of actors, but 10 were baseball players.

Mayo Cut Plug Tobacco 1895- Forty five players were issued in photomechanical formal portraits that resemble studio or mug shots.

Ramly Turkish Cigarettes 1909- Ball players photomechanicals in oval frames with elaborate embossed gold borders. This series has 120 players, and cards in good condition are difficult to find.

Twentieth Century Tobacco 1909- Twentieth Century issued 524 different players including 134 minor leaguers. The most valuable cards of all times are from this set including the Honus Wagner T206 that recently sold for $2.35 million. Wagner reportedly felt smoking set a poor example for the kids, and asked that his card be withdrawn. Consequently, only 50 or 60 of this card are thought to exist. Another high priced card is Eddie Plank who played for Philadelphia. Plank was a left-handed pitcher and Hall of Famer, but his card is in the top three price wise because someone dropped the printing plate before the run was complete.

Fez & Old Mill Cigarettes (T3) 1911- One hundred ball players were issued in this series of chromolithographs with hand coloring that are considered the most beautiful of baseball cards. These cards are prized by collectors who call them Turkey Reds.

Mega cigarette Double Folders feature two players in action poses on the same card. One showed when the card was folded, the other when the card was unfolded. These litho, halftone prints were the VERY FIRST cards with player statistics on the back.

Gold Borders 1911- These photomechanical prints were issued by 10 tobacco companies including American Beauty, Polar Bear, and Sweet Caporal. They were mostly head shots, but include a few action poses which bring the highest prices today.

Tobacco Sells Itself

Even though tobacco companies were still including baseball cards as premiums with their products, the days of the tobacco cards were slowly coming to an end. The American Tobacco Company, once one of the biggest users of cards as a promotional tool came to realize that their products sold quite well on their own, making the production of the cards an unnecessary expense. Fortunately for American men and boys candy companies came in to pinch hit.

Baseball Cards 1914-1928

Beginning around 1914, candy manufacturers took over the baseball card industry and cards issued by gum and candy makers gain in popularity.

Cracker Jacks and Crises
Not surprisingly, the popularity of the cards relied heavily on the popularity of the game itself, and over the years, the sport would suffer setbacks as scandals became public. In 1914 though, baseball was still the Great American pastime, and when baseball teamed up with its favorite ballpark snack, the Cracker Jack card was born.

Free Prize in Every Box
Cracker Jack was one of the first non-tobacco companies to offer baseball cards and they were an almost instant hit with kids. Their first series included 144 cards available only in boxes of the caramel coated popcorn and peanut snack. By 1915, fans could get additional cards by sending coupons or twenty five cents. These eye-catching colored cards featured players in uniform, many in action poses against a bright red background. In 1916 both The Sporting News and Fleischman Bread introduced popular lines of cards. Both series were black and white photographs, the Sporting News cards being head shots and the Bread cards mostly action poses.

“Say it Ain’t so, Joe”
Baseball cards took a hit along with baseball itself with the 1919 news that the Chicago White Sox had thrown a World Series game. Though millions of words have been published about the scandal, most of the details remain unclear. However, enough evidence was uncovered for Kennesaw Mountain Landis (baseball’s first Commissioner) to impose a lifetime ban from baseball on 8 players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson. The others were Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg, Chick Gandil, Claude “Lefty” Williams, Happy Felsch, Fred McMullin, and Eddie Cicotte.

Thanks to the scandal, interest in baseball and consequently baseball card collecting was at an all time low. Then Babe Ruth appeared on the scene. An excellent fielder and even better hitter, Ruth was admired by adults for his abilities, and beloved by kids for his attitude. His growing popularity was reflected in the entry of a new series of cards introduced in 1928 by Fro-Joy, an ice cream company. There were just six cards in the wildly popular series, and every card featured the same player- the Babe was just what baseball, and baseball cards needed.

-Reference note by p4A Contributing Editor Susan Cramer.

Helen, Harry and Minnie Janssen

This legacy started with the arrival of Henry Janssen and Ferdinand Thun from Germany at the turn [...] Click here to continue reading.]]> The Collection of
El Roy and Helene Master

The offering of the antiques and collectables of El Roy P. and Helene Livingood Master comes with some degree of sadness. This collection has remained intact for five generations and it is hoped that others can now appreciate its beauty and fine craftsmanship.

Helen, Harry and Minnie Janssen

This legacy started with the arrival of Henry Janssen and Ferdinand Thun from Germany at the turn of the 20th century. They started the Wyomissing Industries, including Textile Machine Works and Berkshire Knitting Mills.

Henry Janssen had four children, two of whom, Helen and Minnie, became very interested in antiques and collectables. Together they went on buying trips along the east coast and sometimes found themselves bidding against the DuPonts.

Helen married Richard Wetzel and her collection was housed in properties in Wyomissing, PA and Bar Harbor, ME. When she died in 1980, the collection was sold at an on-site auction, one of the largest of its kind.

Helen Janssen Wetzel and Minnie Janssen Livingood

Minnie married Dr. John Livingood and purchased Berksveldt Farm in Robesonia, PA in the 1930′s. One part of the home dated back to 1769 and the other part to 1830. They hired renowned architect Oakie remodel the existing parts and add a stone addition. The work was done between 1937 and 1941 with Farr Nursery landscaping the entire property. Minnie had been collecting antiques with her sister Helen to furnish Berksveldt Farm. Unfortunately, she died before she and her husband could permanently move into their “new” home. Helen Wetzel placed the furniture and collectables in Berksveldt and John moved in with his two daughters, Helene and Elsa.

After World War II, Helene and El Roy P. Master purchased the property along with the furnishings. They appreciated the beauty and integrity of the pieces and took meticulous care of them. Their children were taught at an early age to respect the antiques and grew up living in a museum setting as if it wasn’t something out of the ordinary.

El Roy P. and Helene Livingood Master

El Roy, a West Point graduate and officer in the war, eventually became president of Textile Machine Works. Helene was very active in the community and touched the lives of many people.

Berksveldt Farm

She loved Berksveldt and her place in Maine. They entertained graciously, in the beautiful setting, allowing many people to enjoy their home and surroundings. With the death of Helene in 1998, and El Roy in 2008, the collection is now being sold in its entirety. It marks the end of an era for the family.

courtesy of Pook & Pook June 2009

LOA from [...] Click here to continue reading.]]> PSA/DNA

PSA/DNA is a third party authentication service that focuses on sports and music autographs. PSA/DNA uses synthetic DNA that is only visible with the aid of a laser to mark the item being authenticated. PSA/DNA also affixes a small sticker, which has a unique certification number, onto the item. This unique certification number matches a PSA/DNA certificate of authentication that is issued with the item at the time of the authentication.

LOA from PSA/DNA means Letter of Authority from PSA/DNA

Information courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries

The “Gem” represents one of the earliest reels of hard rubber in the construction of fishing reels, other than for handles. It was extremely light weight but it was very fragile and few have survived. Of the approximately dozen Fowler reels now [...] Click here to continue reading.]]> Dr. Alonzo H. Fowler (1825 – 1903) was a dentist in Ithaca, New York who used the molding technology of his profession to design a reel made almost entirely of hard rubber.

The “Gem” represents one of the earliest reels of hard rubber in the construction of fishing reels, other than for handles. It was extremely light weight but it was very fragile and few have survived. Of the approximately dozen Fowler reels now known most have at least some condition problems such as cracking or chipping.

Edward vom Hofe, New York, NY. Maker of high quality fishing reels, brother to Julius and son of Fredrick vom Hofe. Established operations in 1867 and continued manufacture to circa 1940. Received patents in 1879, 1883, 1896, and 1902. The May 20, 1902 patent date being the most common on Edward vom Hofe fishing reels.

An [...] Click here to continue reading.]]> Early Bicycles

Bicycle enthusiasts join the ranks of other collectors with their unending fascination for the minutiae of the evolution, design and history of their chosen passion. Today’s cool aerodynamic road bikes and sturdy mountain bikes with their lightweight space age tubular frames, spoke wheels, low friction ball bearings and pneumatic tires owe their development over the last 200 years, not to a single person, but to a legion of devoted tinkerers.

An educated German, Baron von Drais of Baden is credited with creating the first bicycle circa 1812 to 1816. With no pedals, springs or brakes it depended on the rider’s foot power for speed and braking. The technology improved with the French “boneshaker”, fitted with pedals, two large wheels and a hard to manage 100-pound iron frame. Going downhill, this heavyweight, with its ineffective hand brake, must have been a frightening threat to pedestrians Finally, about 1870, the Starley Family of Coventry, England, who originally manufactured sewing machines, produced the first commercially successful bicycle referred to as the “Ordinary” or “Pennyfarthing”. It was one of those high wheelers, often pictured in turn of the century prints, with a huge front wheel, some as tall as 58 inches, and a relatively tiny rear wheel. This model was introduced with great success to Americans at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Starley Family also produced the first “modern” bicycle named the “Rover” in 1885. It featured a lightweight tubular frame, chain and sprocket drive and wire spokes. Innovations to the Starley design followed at lightening speed, including the pneumatic tire, the derailleur gear and folding bike. Jim Hurd, former curator of the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio is quoted as saying that the ideas were so numerous that one entire building used by the U.S Patent office was required to hold only bicycle patent documents.

Albert Pope of Dayton, Ohio was the man credited with founding the company that built the first American production high wheel bicycle in the 1870s. But Arnold, Schwinn & Company, founded by Ignaz Schwinn, and the Davis Sewing Machine Company, which became Huffy Corporation, really tapped into the bicycle boom of the 1890s. These firms led the way in bicycle technology and design with others into the 20th century.

Every April the town of Copake, New York, in rural Columbia County (just west of the Massachusetts and Connecticut western borders), is transformed into the locus of the bicycle collecting world. The father and son auctioneer team of Mike and Seth Fallon are the impresarios of this two-wheel gala event centered around a Friday swap meet followed by the Saturday auction at their Copake Auction gallery. Collectors are interested in the most historically important, exotic or most deluxe models. Here is a sampling of the hot items at the April 2005 Copake bicycle auction: an 1886 American high wheel model by the L.D. Gaylor Co. of Stanford, Connecticut brought $11,760; a rare vintage 1937 model Evinrude “Streamflow” which found a buyer at $6,720; and a much later 1955 model Huffy “Radio” bike fetched $4,480. Even a 1971 model Schwinn Krate Stingray with a rare disc brake ballooned to $2,352. The prices include the auction buyer’s premium.

For more on antique and vintage bicycles visit the websites of The Bicycle Museum of America (www.bicyclemuseum.com) or the Metz Bicycle Museum (www.metzbicyclemuseum.com).

Historical note by p4A Contributing Editor Robert Goldberg.