[Johnphotoman]

As I have gathered information and facts on Bond Bread cards, it seems like the controversy could be cleared up. So why after all these years do we still have misinformation and controversy surrounding Bond Bread cards? One answer that was obvious from the posts on Ted Z post; Card set identification was the cause of much confusion. Think about it…How do we as collectors identify cards we collect? Through reference books. Two of the best books we use as collectors for reference; The American Card Catalog and the Standard Catalog of Vintage of Baseball Cards we use to organize our collection has had a hand in that controversy around Bond Bread cards.

(ACC) The American Card Catalog - a reference book that catalogs and organizes American trading cards produced before 1951. Which is considered a classic collectors' guide and is often referred to as the "bible" of card collecting.

The Standard Catalog of Vintage of Baseball Cards, a price guide that provides a comprehensive guide to Baseball cards. Collectors use its many listings as the standard listing for baseball cards. The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, said its own listings rely heavily upon card set identification which originated in the “American Card Catalog”.

Therefore, we can blame some of the confusion on the catalogs and reference books we as collectors use to organize our collection. As I said, two of the main books (The American Card Catalog and the Standard Catalog of Vintage of Baseball Cards), used in collecting trading cards are in part responsible for much of the controversy that has developed around Bond Bread and its cards. Now don’t get me wrong…we could not understand half of what we know without those catalogs. But I and others believe that an update is due in the way those catalogs identify some cards and not just Bond Bread. For us who collect Bond Bread cards, the main question for those catalogs: should cards that were never inserted into loaves of Bond Bread be called Bond Bread cards?

According to The American Card Catalog and the Standard Catalog of Vintage of Baseball Cards, it appears to be yes: It does seem okay to identify cards never inserted into loaves of Bond Bread or issued by Bond Bread to be called Bond Bread cards. But is this the right way to identify cards? Meaning has the two main catalogs really identify all the cards into the right sets. Does new information call for a change as to the way we as collectors want to identify our cards? Yes, I believe we should change some of the card's identification.

Card set identification is one of the most important things we can do as collectors. Using set identification as the guide then we should make changes to how we identify and categorize what we now call “Bond Bread” cards. All the cards we place under the umbrella of Bond Bread should be placed in their proper category. I believe we can now place many of the cards in their own category that would make more sense in identifying those cards.

Understand one problem with set-identification is there are many other similar looking cards from very different issues that are now identified as Bond Bread. However, we can now identify cards previously identified as Bond Bread cards into different sets, or subsets. Many cards are frequently misidentified as "Bond Bread" cards by collectors, leading to debate all because they look the same, (have the same images) or fall under the category used in the American Card Catalog and the Standard Card Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards as D305/W571 among others.

When it comes to organizing baseball cards, the first step is figuring out how you want to categorize them. Thanks to the American Card Catalog and the Standard Card Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards it is a little easier. Of course there are many methods to choose from. It truly depends on what you’re collecting, why you’re collecting them and what you want to say about them. For many of us classification of baseball cards is based on the categories found in the American Card Catalog (ACC).

The ACC is known for its categorization of baseball cards, but it also catalogs non-sports cards. The book provides reference numbers for sets, such as D305/W571 for Bond Bread. These reference numbers are still used today. Most of you know, the D reference category classification stands for in The American Card Catalog designation for bakery / bread cards.” And “W” The designation for strip cards / exhibits

Therefore, Bond Bread D305 classification in the American Card Catalog is “Bakery”. Bond Bread W571 in the Standard Card Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards is designation for strip cards / exhibits. That means according to the two catalogs anyway: Bond Bread cards are either Bakery cards, strip cards or Exhibits.

But we now understand the only true Bond Bread cards are D305,D302 and D301. W571 should be called Arrco cards, (previously Bond Bread). Should we change the way we identify the cards we call Bond Bread? John.