19th Century Baseball Currency

[jerrys]

During the mid-1880 period, when sponsoring tobacco companies’ first inserted baseball cards into their products, trade cards were the most progressive means of consumer product advertising. One of the most effective types of trade cards was the eye-catching baseball currency. The dimensions and thinness are the same as the currency of the day.
Vendors would overprint their ad on the preprinted cards, generally that included a discount for their product. Clothing, shoes/boots and jewelry are products ads mostly found but many other products and services appear on these give-away cards. The earliest cards are dated 1887, latest 1893, all feature portraits of baseball players on the back. Beside baseball, there were other subjects produced on this type format, such as Indians, Boxers, Actors, etc.
Please let us see what you have.

1887-cd.jpg

1887-sa.jpg

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Whoa these are really amazing! Had no idea they existed. Jerry thx for posting!

[jerrys]

Some larger images:

21a.jpg

21b.jpg

5a.jpg

5b.jpg

18a.jpg

18b.jpg

[petecld]

These are facinating pieces and I am happy to say Heritage has four available in our current auction:

Lot #80030

Lot #80031

Lot #80032

Lot #80033

Bidding has begun.

Peter

[JeremyW]

Not quite 19th century or as visually appealing, but here's a recent pick-up of mine.

[BeanTown]

Nice pickup Jeremy. Love those Obsolete Notes! I'd love to see the Actress note Jerry mentions above. Have never seen that one. Back in the late 90s Bob Lemke did an article in the monthly SCD paper. I have missed place that over the years and would love to find it. It aspired me to start collecting them. Spoke to Bob a couple of years ago and he said SCD never kept back issues or archived them so it's basically lost. If anyone happens to have it I would love to get a copy of the article. The OldCardBoard article is nice to as it's a great reference for the different type of notes.