Mark Macrae's Show

[Archive]

Posted By: Jay Miller

Here are a list of the seven different metamorphic backs that I know of. My assumption is that at first Goodwin & Co. required 35 slips (coupons) for an N173 but that this proved to be too much so they reduced the requirement to 25 slips.

1-"35" slips marked over in red pencil to "25" slips
2-35 slip back with red diagonal overprint from LL to UR "send us 20 empty covers of boxes or 25 slips in place of 35 slips as advertised".
3-"35" slips marked over in red pencil to "25" slips and purple diagonal overprint from LL to UR "empty covers of boxes not containing slips received in place of slips"
4-"35" slips printed over in purple to "25" slips and red diagonal overprint from UL to LR with the same wording as #3.
5-As #4 but overprint is horizontally across the bottom with the word "not" underlined. Different type face than #4.
6-Reprinted text with "35" changed to "25". Also mention in the text that 25 box covers were acceptable if the box did not contain a slip.
7-Only printing is "Goodwin & Co./Manufacturers of/ OLD JUDGE/Cigarettes./New York. There is a large, almost vertical red overprint reading from the UR to the LL "If you want a full photographic collection of your favorite BASE BALL PLAYERS, YOU CAN EASILY GET THEM. You will find a printed slip in every box of OLD JUDGE or GYPSY QUEEN CIGARETTES you buy. On return to us of 25 of these slips, or 25 covers of boxes in which no slips have been packed, we will mail you (prepaid) an elegant CABINET PHOTOGRAPH, handsomely mounted, of any base ball player, in club uniform, you may select from our printed editions. In this way you can get the photograph of every player of prominence in any club in the country."

Points of note--I haven't seen a back that had an unaltered "35". I'm sure these are out there but I haven't looked that hard. That would technically be the 8th back. This shows that Goodwin started wanting 35 slips for an N173, went to 25 slips, started taking pack tops (20 versus 25 slips) and then decided to go with 25 covers or 25 slips. This also shows Gypsy Queen cigarettes had coupons for N173s. This still leaves the question unanswered as to how Large Gypsy Queens were distributed.