Early Hobby Baseball Card Collectors

[EddieP]

WWII spy and saboteur, Edward C. Wharton-Tigar was voted in the Card Collectors Hall of Fame in 1971. At the time of his death, Wharton-Tigar held the Guiness Book of World Records of the largest collection of cigarette cards. His collection now resides in the British Museum.

Here is his bio from the British Museum:

“Mining engineer, SOE operative, director of the Selection Trust, and collector of trade cards, especially cigarette cards. Began collecting in 1920, and by his death had formed the world's greatest collection which he bequeathed to the BM. It is registered as a group under 2006,0201.1. He was the founder in 1938, and president of the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain, and his index system and the cards in his collection form the basis for the 'World Index of Tobacco Cards' in many printed volumes.”

[GasHouseGang]

A couple of cards from the Lionel Carter collection.

[Leon]

I have around 20 letters, plus some other cataloging things, from Wharton-Tigar. Interesting reading...

Originally Posted by EddieP

WWII spy and saboteur, Edward C. Wharton-Tigar was voted in the Card Collectors Hall of Fame in 1971. At the time of his death, Wharton-Tigar held the Guiness Book of World Records of the largest collection of cigarette cards. His collection now resides in the British Museum.

Here is his bio from the British Museum:

“Mining engineer, SOE operative, director of the Selection Trust, and collector of trade cards, especially cigarette cards. Began collecting in 1920, and by his death had formed the world's greatest collection which he bequeathed to the BM. It is registered as a group under 2006,0201.1. He was the founder in 1938, and president of the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain, and his index system and the cards in his collection form the basis for the 'World Index of Tobacco Cards' in many printed volumes.”

[EddieP]

Originally Posted by Leon

I have around 20 letters, plus some other cataloging things, from Wharton-Tigar. Interesting reading...

E.C.Wharton-Tigar seemed to be an interesting character. He was the president of the Cartophilic Society of Great Britain until his death in 1995. I’m waiting for my copy of Wharton-Tigar’s catalogue on cards produced by the British American Tobacco Company. And I’m currently on the fence whether to buy Wharton-Tigar’s autobiography.