1930 Post Cereal Christy Mathewson
 

I'm doing some background on the 1930 Post Cereal - Famous Americans Mathewson card (and greater set) and need help determining two things:

1) The correct ACC#
2) The card size(s) of the issue

Here's what I've found:

When I look at the original ACC book I see this set classified as F92 (pg 101), which lists the set as: Famous Americans. Most websites and auctions list this set as F278-50. F278 is reserved for several Post issues, but I don't see Famous Americans listed amongst the 26 sets detailed in the original ACC (pg 105).

The second part regards the size of the card. I bought my first Post Cereal Mathewson card 20-25 years ago, and it came attached to the other three cards around it. The other cards had some extensive creasing etc, so I cut the Mathewson apart. I haven't cut apart a card in a couple of decades, but back then it seemed the sensible thing to do. Anyways, that card measures 2 7/8 x 3 3/4.

Last week I purchased another Post Cereal Mathewson and this one measures 2 3/8 x 3 1/4, the size noted on some baseball card reference websites.

Using a 40x loupe, I see no difference in cardboard stock, printing method, ink, or design for these two cards. I believe both are authentic.

Both cards are attached for inspection. Any and all thoughts are appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Eric

Size
 

It is funny that the Standard Catalog shows the size as right in the middle of your 2 cards - 2 5/8 x 3 1/2.

They list the card as from 1930 but they say the date is unconfirmed.

?
 

This is from Todd's non sports website. Sorry, it doesn't answer either of your questions.


Drawings of famous historic figures that were cut from the back of Post's 40% Bran Flakes cereal boxes. Company is anonymous after cards are cut. The one sport figure (Christy Mathewson) commands a premium due to the sports card crossover. Set was unlisted in the ACC but belongs with the F278 issues. A similar series of Great Canadians was issued in Canada around the same time period.

Card content and design copyright Post Cereal All rights reserved.
Name: Small Cut Card
Type: Card
Qty In Set: 32
Numbering: Unnumbered
Dimensions: 2 7/16" W by 3 1/8" H

maybe post on the sister non-sports site?

http://forum.vintagenonsports.com/

It's been a great reference for me.

Funny note, I acquired a nice Mathewson and sold it, then about 2 weeks after I sold it I obtained a set, missing, you guessed it, a Matty. Never had anything from the set in nearly 50 years on this planet then in the matter of less than a month...

Eric,
As you have surmised, this set comes in two distinct sizes with the actual measurements differing slightly depending on how they are cut from the back of the package (outside the dotted lines, on the dotted lines or inside the dotted lines). I have nearly complete boxes on the smaller version and they are the 10-ounce size of Post 40% bran flakes. Presumably, the larger size, which over many years of collecting this set has seemed less common, comes from a 12, 14 or 16-ounce box. By the way, the Canadian cards are slightly narrower and slightly taller than the US small-size cards.

In the 1960 ACC, F92 is mentioned as being from Aro Milk which tells me that the stock should have a wax or polyethylene finish depending on date if they came from a milk carton. I wouldn't think F92 has anything to do with the series being discussed as it seems to be an issue from not long before 1960 and F92-2 and F92-3 probably during the 1960s.

In later updates there are:
F92-2 ROBIN HOOD TRADING CARDS, PD, anon, in code, Aro Milk, 3-1/4 X 2-3/4
F92-3 Famous Americans (#17 seen) PD, 1966, anon, 3-1/4 X 2-1/4, Aro Robin Hood Milk


The last F278 designation I'm seeing on updates is F278-48. The F278-49 designation is another Post Famous Americans series that looks significantly different and appears to be a premium. The F278-49 offer expired on 12/31/1935. I'm not sure when the F278-49 and F278-50 designations were introduced. I'm not seeing anything from after F278-50.

My best guess would be it's a type 2 sort of thing that just wasn't mentioned or catalogued. It seems that different sized boxes is probably the answer. F278-50-2? F278-51? Just F278-50 in different sizes? It's whatever one wants to call it I guess, at least from what I'm seeing.

It's hard to draw complete conclusions from the ACC since the work didn't continue. It's sort of like reading an encyclopedia from 1960 and saying that is the complete story on a particular subject.

Thank you everyone, for the great feedback and insights. My card measurements come from the perforation lines, so it appears I have both sizes now. Unless the slimmer Canadian version is yet another. That's a set I wasn't aware of.

Given the information here it appears the F278 designation is correct.
Again..I appreciate all of the expertise each of you have lent!

Eric