1926 Sports Co. of America Spalding Cards Trade Ad
 

Great ad from an obscure trade publication illustrating the method of distribution for 1926 Sports Company of America Spalding cards. Also including the Old Cardboard link for comparison...

http://www.oldcardboard.com/o/h/spor...?cardsetID=980

<img src="http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/scratchtest/1926_Sports_Co__of_America_Spalding_Ad.jpg" border="0" alt="">

<img src="http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/scratchtest/1926_Sports_Co__of_America_Spalding_Ad_CU.jpg" border="0" alt="">

very interesting
 

Hey Jeff
Thanks for posting that. I have an affinity for that series as I have one of the more scarce cards in the set, a 1927 (copyright) Ruth card. Now we see they were made exclusively for the candy trade I wonder if we should classify them as "E-Unc"? I have always had them listed as a trade card "H-Unc". Great item and if it were ever offered for sale I would be interested..:)..regards

Very cool item! It's rare we get to see the items we collect in the state that one was able to purchase them.

Leon, I don't know that these should be E-cards as the Sport-Scrip is what you were actually purchasing (along w the card)--only the buyer with the lucky #'s got any candy or gifts.
-Rhett

I love that set of cards also. That is a super neat piece you found there. If anyone happens to run across the Man O War card, give me a holler, I had to sell mine a few years ago and have regretted that for a while.
Bob
upperhandisforemost@yahoo.com

Does anyone know why certain cards in that set (like Cobb) seem to be especially tough?

Yes - certain players were aked to participate in the set and give their permission. A few prototypes were sent to them and they are extremely rare- I (and very advanced collector in Calif.) own a Red Grange (2 seen) and BMW (Mike Wentz) has a Cobb (1 seen). They were also issued in 1927 and as Leon says and are rare. I have three FB players with a Sept 1927 copyright date on the reverse. Nice Ad.

agreed
 

I guess in retrospect, with a few more seconds of thought, these shouldn't be candy cards as you suggest, Rhett. It was a fleeting thought I had :confused:.

Thanks, Carl. I had no idea the Cobb had a 1927 copyright date. I remember when it was auctioned. It was handcut and sold as very rare, but I didn't know it was literally one of a kind.

Cool piece, Thank for sharing!

If I'm not mistaken, the original find of these cards (or a major find) was made in the early 90's by Alan Hager.

I remember doing a show probably back in the '80's and this guy walked in with a lot of these cards. I couldn't find them in any priceguide, but I offered a price and he refused. Never seen any again. I really wanted them since he had I remember a Ruth in the lot.

Jay... I seem to recall that it was Bill Hughes who made the first discovery of a large lot in uncirculated condition, then Alan Hager found a similar group shortly thereafter . We had seen them circulating on the West Coast for years, but never in such large quantities or nice condition.... On another note.... GREAT AD piece !!

Weren't Alan Hager's in uncut sheets that he (or someone associated w/ him) cut up & then had graded by ASA (his own grading co.), also, I believe they had the ad backs (not the bio backs normally found).
-Rhett

I think Hager's claim to fame was a find of the "ad back" cards (as opposed to the "biography back" cards. There are certainly a lot of handcut cards out there. I'm not sure if those originate from Hager or not, and I'm not sure if they're the ad backs or not.

Agreed - very interesting and finally sheds some light on a mysterious set. I used to have three track and field cards from the set, each with the original coupon and envelope. Only have a copyright Nov, '26 Whitey Michelsen left. Heck, Whitey's 10% of my collection now!

Many of the ones discovered were -- as I recall -- found inside the paper packets ....
Certain cards seem to be fairly common. For example, there are several Joe Sewell cards that were signed by Sewell. On the other hand Cobb and some others are almost never seen.