Who Was America's First Card Collector?

[GoldenAge50s]

Originally Posted by Matt

America's first card collector was probably a kid back in the 1880s whose identity has been lost to time.

You're right Matt---a few SOMEBODYS from the 1880's had to be collectors for all those OJ's to have survived!

[tedzan]

I will offer evidence of an early collector from the 1880's that is identified on my Goodwin Champions album.






Also, I once acquired an original complete set of the 1888 Goodwin Champions (N162), where all 50 cards
had the following stamped on the backs of these cards with purple ink.........

E.S. Richardson
Danvers, Mass.

So, there you go, now we can account for two 1880's collectors.

TED Z

[tedzan]

Connie Mack and Daniel LaFean (founder of the American Caramel Company, Phila., PA)) were very close friends at the start of the 20th Century.
It is reported that Connie Mack encouraged LaFean to include BB cards with his candy products....circa 1908.

One of the Biographical books on Connie Mack tells how Mack was excited when the NADJA (E104) BB cards were issued late in 1910 depicting 17
of his A's players and him (titled "World's Champions" ). Mack acquired them and was giving them out to his players and his friends.

11 years ago, I had an interesting conversation with Connie Mack's Grandson, Florida Senator Connie Mack III. In the course of our conversation,
Connie briefly talked about his Grandfather's card collecting interests .






That is Connie Mack III 's signature on my A's Golden Jubilee program.


TED Z

[rhettyeakley]

Who Was America’s First Baseball Card Collector?

This kid...


And I bet these kids also dabbled in the pictures of ballplayers (when not looking for N85's)...