T231 Fans Cigarettes

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

As we all probably know by now, I am a collector of baseball related cigarette packs. I've been lucky enough to document and find examples of nearly every cigarette or tobacco pack that relates to baseball card distribution except for a few...

Recently, I was exchanging emails with a good friend of mine who has an amazing cigarette pack collection (unrelated to baseball or the distribution of cards) and I happened to ask him if he knew anything about Fans Cigarettes. To my great surprise, my friend knew some information on the company. He informed me that Fans were made in 1920 by the Tobacco Products Corp. and marketed in a slide and shell packet of ten cigarettes. In a 1984 issue of the Cigarette Pack Collector's Association club newsletter, nine packs belonging to the Richard Steiger collection were pictured, including Fans.

After learning this, I contacted Leon to find out if he had ever learned any information about Fans Cigarettes. Leon informed me that he had never been able to find any information on the company or the distribution of the cards. So, after some more digging, I was able to find this. Take in mind this is a flattened "outer shell" of a slide and shell cigarette pack. Dimensions would be similar to that of a normal slide and shell pack.

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Posted By: leon

Thanks so much for posting this...I think I will steal a copy of the scan and of course have the credit in it. I searched for over 2 hours after we spoke last night and could still never find any reference to Fans Cigarettes and this company. I found a lot of information...including the little company they bought about 80 yrs ago...called Philip Morris.....thanks again...and I know I have shown it a million times, and it's my avatar, but here is the card again so we can see it in the thread pertaining to it....

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Posted By: barry arnold

Great research, Jon---and great pictures Jon and Leon.

This world of packs is certainly a fascinating and necessary adjunct to
the world of vintage card collecting. I'm eager to see more illumination of
Fans.

many thanks,

Barry

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Posted By: Dave F

Isn't the story that there was one another card found at some point besides Leon's Baker? And from what I remember it has since been lost again? Anyone know when/who/where/why it was last? Where it was sold? How long ago etc?

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Posted By: leon

There is a xerox photocopy of Bigbee but it's physical whereabouts is unknown...

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Posted By: JimB

Very interesting Jon. Great work.
JimB

[Rich Klein]

2 that we know are cards and the 3rd one is a photocopy of Carson Bigbee. That's it

Rich

[birdman42]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

2 that we know are cards and the 3rd one if a photocopy of Carson Bigbee. That's it

Rich

Have I missed something? Details, Rich, details!

Bill

[Leon]

Originally Posted by birdman42

Have I missed something? Details, Rich, details!

Bill

My good hobby friend and #1 table at the National (always), John Rumirez, has the other one. He has had it forever . It is Gardner, I believe, and Bob Lemke first showed it on his blog quite a while back....(seems like a few years ago).

[Rich Klein]

John told me he purchased that card from Tom Reid for like $10-15 back in the day. Pretty good investment I'd say