Jeffries/Johnson 1910 E-UNC cards

[G1911]

I'm mostly a set collector, so while I focus on 1910 era stuff I've never gone for these two cards. Just ended up buying one in a lot that had another card I wanted in it, and casually tried to document over the last ~15 years as part of the era I focus on. Guess I have to buy a Jeffries now.

Still have not figured out much of anything about them. Presumably it's a 1910 issue from their hyped up July 4 battle. I've yet to see any actual evidence that "E-UNC" is even correct, though it does have the vague aesthetic of a caramel/candy issue of the period. Neither card is particularly difficult to find, nor very valuable. The Johnson doesn't seem to have really taken off (yet, hopefully it doesn't), selling for less than his superprinted T218 does now, though historically the reverse was true. Anyone know anything about these? Seen/have the original packaging, or anything known about their distribution method? Ever seen any non-sport or other subjects?

[Exhibitman]

This and the corresponding Jeffries were issued in 1910 with candy in a box. Long time ago I saw a package but don't have anything more on it.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This and the corresponding Jeffries were issued in 1910 with candy in a box. Long time ago I saw a package but don't have anything more on it.

That’s what I was hoping someone would have a pic of! Confirms it as a candy issue at least.

[wicker56]

I’m guessing that you needed the Tolstoi that was mixed in with this Johnson?

[G1911]

Originally Posted by wicker56

I’m guessing that you needed the Tolstoi that was mixed in with this Johnson?

Yep, the Tolstoi made for card #582 in my T218 set. Made use of the T225 Ketchel for that master run and the rest went into the dupe box. Normally I’d trade off the Johnson, but since there are only 2 cards, might as well complete a set instead

[Tao_Moko]

I picked both up before the recent boom. Did a fair amount of research and not much available beyond this auction write-up

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

I picked both up before the recent boom. Did a fair amount of research and not much available beyond this auction write-up

HA, all wrong. The cards are not box parts, they are machine cut. I've handled several of them and they are uniform and smooth. The image of Jeffries is from after he lost most of the weight preparing for the Johnson fight. The image comes from the copyrighted 1909 photos taken by Sarony for the Pictorial News Co. for its PC series.

[Tao_Moko]

Definitely not handcut. These are scarce, but far from rare and of those I've seen, they all seem consistent in size. I wouldn't rule out tobacco insert except for Adam having seen them in a candy box.