Black Jack Gum?
 

I'm reviewing a baseball (not baseball card...) related book for a journal, and in discussing the business of baseball the author includes a brief discussion of baseball cards. He writes that the "earliest" baseball cards were produced by Black Jack Gum in the 1870s.

Now, I've been collecting since the 80s, and I've never heard of anything by Black Jack Gum, certainly not from that early period. Is anyone aware of any baseball related issues by Black Jack, either "sets" or one-off products? I want to make sure I do my due diligence before including something in my review (there are other card related errors as well).

Thanks,

Jeff

The only Black Jack gum I remember was from the 1940's, 1950's era. No baseball cards with them though.

Joe

according to the bible (SCBC) it looks like 1886 is the earliest listed, and there was 3 or 4 small series....

little history i found about gum

Invention: chewing gum

Function: noun / the first brand name was Adams New York No. 1

Definition: A sweetened and flavored preparation for chewing, usually made of chicle. Continusily manufactured since 1848, The first flavored gum was called Black Jack

Patent: Patent # 111,798 (US) issued February 14, 1871

Standard Catalog
 

Jim - I have to admit, I haven't bought a new Standard Catalog since 2004, and I didn't see anything about Black Jack in there.

Jeff

sorry, i wasnt being very clear with my original post..

the original cards listed in the standard catalog, WERE NOT black jack, they never had any cards listed.

the earliest cards listed were 1886, 3 or 4 series, nothing to do with gum of any type.... one was old judge, couple others, local team sets...

I repeat no black jack gum cards... my bad...


Sounded good in my head when i originally typed it, when i re-read it, looks like i made myself look pretty silly! oh well, least i am good at something!

Author screwed up Im sure

I dont think Black Jack even made nonsport cards...ever from my search.

I know they didnt make baseball 100%

Lone Jack yes, but its not gum they are one of the earliest...

N370 1886
scan from oldcardboard.com website


http://www.oldcardboard.com/n/n370/n370.jpg

Screw Ups
 

Thanks guys. There were a number of other mistakes as well - such as dating the T206 Wagner to the 1890s and claiming that no football card ever sold for more than $10,000.

The book is about the business of baseball, not baseball cards; but when such basic facts are messed up, it makes you wonder about the rest of the research. That being said, the baseball history items I fact checked have all been correct thus far.

Jeff