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1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Max WederWhile surfing through the Police Gazette on-line, I found this reference in an 1886 article: <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/336962438_02cf0d6806.jpg"> Does anyone know what cards are referred to here? Thanks, Max

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: PaulI can't answer your question, but I think it's very interesting that the term "baseball cards" was actually in use in 1886.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: JoannWas Sporting Life in existence in 1886? I don't know - and I also don't recognize any of the names in the clip. Heck, I can't even figure out what the last paragraph is even saying, and I read it twice! Joann

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Max WederPaul Here is an earlier reference to cards. For a mere $3,000, this item is available on-line: Description: One quarto leaf folded to make four pages, apparently paginated with the previous issue: (1)6-8. Small stain on the first page, else fine. An "amateur" newspaper, on page 7 (or the third page of the newspaper) is an advertisement that reads as follows: "Base Ball Cards! 25 for 20 cts. Special rates to clubs. State position and name of club when ordering. Agents wanted! Send 3 ct. stamp for samples. Franklin L. Horn, Mattoon, Ills." Within our own little circle of baseball scholars and enthusiasts debate rages over the meaning of this little advertisement, with some convinced that this is an advertisement for business or trade cards, others that it indicates a previous unknown series of amateur baseball cards, and still others believing it was an advertisement for a stillborn project proposed by the printer, with no takers. The meaning of "baseball cards" is somewhat fluid. A few cabinet photographs were issued in the 1850s, and the sporting goods company Peck and Snyder issued a few cabinet photograph cards of teams in 1869-1870; but the first use of the term to indicate what we now consider "baseball cards" usually refers to mass produced player cards issued with tobacco products in the mid-1880s. Odds and Ends is an example of an "amateur newspaper," part of a movement that started around 1805 and continued, with fits and starts, until the Great Depression, with the "golden age" of the movement between 1870-1880, and beginning in 1867, with the invention of an inexpensive "novelty press." This item might provide a vital missing link to the study of early cards, or just be a dead-end in the evolutionary development of the hobby. At any rate, a fascinating and thought provoking item. Bookseller Inventory # 83353 <img src="http://pictures.abebooks.com/BETWEENTHECOVERS/628533937.jpg"> Max

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateMax- Sporting Life published a series of about a dozen comic baseball trade cards that are beautifully illustrated and highly prized by trade card collectors. A friend of mine just sold a bunch of them on ebay about ten days ago. If you click on completed auctions and type in "sporting life trade cards" I think you should be able to find some nice examples.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Hal Lewiscan't find them. please help us out Barry

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateLet me look and I'll get back to you.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateFor some reason I can't find them either. There is one pictured in black and white in Lipset's 19th century encyclopedia on page 4. But I can't think of where else a color picture would be and I don't know why they are not showing up on completed searches on ebay. If you want to see the Rolls Royce of baseball trade cards go to completed auctions and type in Darktown Battery Trade Card. That is the rarest baseball trade card of them all.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Max WederHere's another ad from the Police Gazette, this time from 1885. Presumably more trade cards? <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/336956117_9e22e76e05.jpg"> Max

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateClick on the link to REA's last auction, go to lot 717, and click on the third of the five available pictures. The top row of three are Sporting Life color trade cards.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: leonI believe there were 2 types made. The one like Barry is talking about and this type. I looked in the ACC and didn't see a number for it but maybe Burdick is hiding it somewhere else ala W600? regards (by popular demand the quarter is back) <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1167446922.JPG">

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Hal Lewis<img src="http://i1.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/7f/5b/173f_3.JPG">

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Hal Lewis<img src="http://www.exteo.com/ebay/darktownironbank.jpg">

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateHal- that's it. The trade card is more valuable than the bank. Only a handful are known. Leon- that is the trade card I was referring to. What is the second type? I am only aware of one Sporting Life series.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: fkwThe Sporting Life cards are listed as H804-8 in the ACC. There is 3 sets H804-8A (tan bottom) 8 known H804-8B (yellow bottom) 8 known H804-8C (brown bottom) 4 known Each set has different titles, and each of the 3 sets has a different back advertisement.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: leonThanks much.....just as I thought. I really think these should be an "m" series much like the Sporting Life Cabinets, W600. There is another, much nicer, trade card I am thinking of too. They usually go for about $450-$650 when I see them and I have never picked one up. I would be surprised if they have an ACC #. They are much more ornate and the lithography is nicer on the others. I think they are also from Sporting Life but might be something like "Sporting Times"? and are generic.... (not M117) regards

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: fkwI updated it Leon. There are 3 sets. I had to look at my Keetz book and get all the info. PS there is also a Sporting Life "brownies playing baseball" series (H804-29), but they are not as attractive and have a small "Read The Sporting Life" in bottom corner.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: leonThanks again....I think the one I am thinking of might be "National ---" something......it's a larger card and I have only seen about 5 in my tenure in the hobby...

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: barrysloateLeon- what you are thinking of is "National League Chew". What sets that one apart is it is perhaps the only color trade card to show a serious ballplayer; all the others show comic poses of one kind or another. It also has extremely fine lithography and is quite scarce. As far as there being three series of Sporting Life trade cards, that is technically true but the artwork on all three is stylistically the same.

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: Jim ClarkeI rarely get a chance to show this one off.. But when you said police Gazette I could not resist...One of my favorite items I own. Swett was only PCL player in the set.. <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1167508446.JPG">

1886 Sporting Life Cards Reference in Police Gazette

Posted By: fkwBarry got it, the "National Chew" cards are one of the nicest looking ones and bring good $$. From what my book says they are 3-1/8" by 5" Calvert Lith. of Detroit. I only see them maybe once every 2 years on eBay, and a few have been trimmed and still brought good $$.