Posted By:
Frank WakefieldHey Rob,
Mr. Lipset's volume #1 was printed in 1983, #2 in 1984, and #3 1986.
#1 is on old stuff, Old Judges and the like. Even Harper's Woodcuts, an interesting but neglected area.
#2 is for early gum and candy cards, it has the American Caramel cards, Cracker Jacks, Colgans, Zee-Nuts...
#3 is for twentieth century tobacco cards. T205s, T206s, 7s, 10s, 12s... and the others.
At some point in time these 3 were reprinted, all in one book, and that may well be in 1997 as you found. I've not seen that, but recall the advertising for it. That might be all you can find. I don't think there was any updating, just a reprinting. I'd think you could find it on ABEbooks or Alibris. And they're on eBay from time to time.
Bruce suggests the first edition of The American Card Catalog. While I'm a bibliophile and love first editions, I think one of the later printings would be better for you.
If you get the volumes I've suggested you won't really need Sir Wharton-Tigar's five volume "World Index" as suggested by Bruce above. It is great if you collect all kinds of cards world-wide. It is too much to fool with if you only collect US baseball cards. I've been waiting years for Bruce to mail me a copy of one of the Wharton-Tigar letters he has, and a copy of a WSJ article he promised. Sir Wharton-Tigar's publication is a significant achievement, but you can get by without it. I doubt that more than 2% of the folks here have even seen it.