Pre-WWII definition for card collecting

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Potomac Yank

We entered in 1917.

Europe was at it since Sarajevo 1914.

When we say pre war:
There are a couple that post like if it means pre Desert Storm.

Historically, the originating back bone of this pre war community was about Tobacco cards, and "E" cards.
When we say pre war ... shouldn't it be pre Sarajevo 1914?

JMVHO .....

I've always thought pre-war meant pre-1917 because the cards are American and that's when we entered the war. I don't collect cards after 1917 except for the occasional Topps and Bowman sets from the 50s and 60s. Cards from the '20s and '30s aren't pre-war to me, but I am in the minority I am sure.
It's also interesting to consider what was the "Golden Age of Baseball." I have heard this term used to describe 1906-1919 (deadball era) and also Ruth and the 20's and early 30's and even 1952-60. For New York fans the Golden Age was definitely the 50's, but always wondered what others think.

[ChrisStufflestreet]

Originally Posted by tbob

I've always thought pre-war meant pre-1917 because the cards are American and that's when we entered the war.

I once read somewhere about the effect of the War before 1917 on cardmakers. I do know that when the European crisis broke into a full-blown conflict with England, France and Russia on one side and Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey on the other there was an immediate effect. Some of the dyes used to make the brightly-colored cards were German in origin and a lot of the trendy tobacco of the era was Turkish. Perhaps others here know more about the effect, but there had to be a good reason the card quality fell off after about 1913 (CJs excepted) besides just the demise of the ATC trust.