Posted By:
David YokenHi folks,
I am curious about how cards were distributed in the pre-war days.
I just heard about the major find of 52 Topps wax pack boxes in Massachusetts a few years back, and it got me thinking. Was Topps the first company to put cards in wax packs, vending boxes and the like? (The reason I ask this is that the oldest unopened packs I've seen are 51 Topps, and I've seen 50s-era Bowman packs as well.) I've never seen unopened Playballs, Goudeys, etc.
How did the pre-war companies distribute their cards? Obviously the tobacco cards were distributed in tobacco packs, and candy series cards with the various candies, but what about the others? And what is the oldest find of unopened material to date (not including old tobacco packs you see up for auction every once and a while)? Finally, is there some sort of history of baseball card packaging throughout the years?
Thanks for your help with this!
Dave