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Posted By: David

I don't know exactly what are the Allegany cards, but if they were unissued proofs, I wouldn't consider them trading cards. In my judgement, a trading card has to be the final product actually or intended for commercial/public distrubution. Proofs and printing plates and orignial art are fine and often deservedly collectable items, but I wouldn't consider them trading cards.

Simularly, many 19th century cartes de visite(CDVs) and cabinet cards may or may not be trading cards-- no one knows as no one is really sure how many of them they were issued (personal versus public use).