T215 (Red Cross) issue mystery....can anyone explain ?

[tedzan]

This set is identified as a Louisiana issue in the Standard Catalog; however, the bottom line on the Red Cross
back states......." Factory #10, 5th Dist. N.J. "



This was a major factory of the Pierre Lorillard Tobacco Co. in Jersey City, NJ

Sounds like a Joisey Tobacco issue to me..........

So, how and when did this set become a Louisiana Tobacco issue ?

Clue me in guys.....because this really mystifies me ? ?


TED Z

[barrysloate]

Ted- I just checked the back of the T207 Red Cross and that too is New Jersey.

[Baseball Rarities]

Ted,

I think that people have always known that Red Cross cards had a New Jersey factory on the back, but I think that several of the larger "original" finds of these cards were in Louisiana.

[FrankWakefield]

What Kevin said is the deal.

Mr. Lipset describes the Red Cross cards as being from Louisiana. He mentions the New Jersey factory designation, and notes that that has nothing to do with where the cards "are" actually found. Seems that would be a "were" in the present times. Thanks to card shows, dealers, and the internet, cards are no longer solely found where they were distributed. The last ZeeNut I bought did not come to me from someone in California... Ball cards have become migratory little rascals...

[ethicsprof]

Ted,
great detective work, as always!
i've been reading through Burdick's ACC again and again, seeking some narrative that might illuminate this enigma a bit.
The best i can come up with is in section 6 of 20th Century U.S. Tobacco Insert Cards: "Many were distributed in only one area of the country,such as
the Pacific Coast issues of Obaks,Sultans, Grand Duke, Imperiales, Kopec, Pets, and Mono. In Louisiana were Coupon, Red Sun, Kotton, Victory, and
Mino. "
No mention of Red Cross in Louisiana.
I think Frank has it when he says colloquially yet poignantly:
'Ball cards have become migratory little rascals.....'
We imputed Louisiana to New Jersey and imputed it over and over again 'til
we finally believed it without question or even noticing, until now.
And Burdick in his always pithy 'narrative' knew it all along.

best,
barry

[tedzan]

Thanks, I appreciate your responses......but, I also appreciate the significance of the Factory system of the American Tobacco Co.
Coupon, Red Sun, and Victory Cigarettes were produced in Factory #3, or #8 (Victory brand)....District of Louisiana.

The T216 cigarettes were not part of ATC, they were a British product (also, the T216 cards were printed by American Caramel).





Therefore, if Red Cross cards were found in Louisiana, they most likely "migrated" (I like that, Frank) by some Northeast guy(s), who
moved to the Bayou country.
Either a retiree, or some one disgruntled by the excessive Joisey taxes (even back then)

Incidently, do we know of any Red Cross finds in the Northeast ?


Best regards,

TED Z