Posted By:
CyclebackI agree with Pete in that I would like to hear a coherent and plausible explanation for why it says Goodwin on front and Allen & Ginter on back. Companies competing in the same tough market advertise against the competing company, not for. Adidas doesn't have television spots promoting their shoes and ending with "but make sure to also buy some Nike shoes, because they make quality shoes too" ... The only reason a tobacco company issued tobacco cards and premiums was to increase its market share versus that of its competitors.
Also if it really was a Allen & Ginter proof, they wouldn't put that kind of sticker on the back. Proofs are test or trial prints for the printers' eyes only, and are not given to the public or intended to be viewed by the public. A company might stamp something like the company name, address and copyright on the back of a proof, but there would be no logical point to stick a sticker with a lengthy and detailed advertisement for a specific brand of cigarette-- as no one in the general public is going to read it.
Lastly, when has anyone on this board seen a late 1800s advertising on the back of a baseball card, trade card or cabinet card in the form of a sticker?