Share some Jack Dempsey (the original, the Nonpareil)

[G1911]

I just finished a biography of the original Dempsey, so he's top of my mind right now and he has a lot of great cards. Aesthetic wise, I think his cards beat his namesake's pieces. We don't get enough card posts here, so please share any you have (or don't).

Here's what I think is my oldest Dempsey at the moment, from a set I don't really collect but is pretty cool. Image isn't too faded, but that upper crease is pretty heavy.

[Exhibitman]

I'll play. Here's a rare white-mount M125 NY Illustrated News:

[Jerry G]

N28 1887 Allen & Ginter

[brad15]

Its all I got!

[G1911]

Always love the cabinets.

Here's his N162, with lithographer line, that I think I got from Adam (thanks!) not too long ago. There's some glue remnant on the back that has led to the slight discoloration and 'smearing' on the top of the front.

I think the Ginter above is his nicest looking N card, but that's the one I don't have.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by brad15

Its all I got!

Close enough

[Mark Webster]

Hi everyone, I haven’t played for a while. probably my favourite set. Not that it’s complete!

[G1911]

Are you going for a full N269 set? Those are tough and great, I really like the backs. Few N cards really have backs beyond the ad/checklist. I just have a type card of them

[Mark Webster]

I’m trying for the set. I don’t think I have enough years left in me or enough resources to complete it! I haven’t picked a card up in years.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Mark Webster

I’m trying for the set. I don’t think I have enough years left in me or enough resources to complete it! I haven’t picked a card up in years.

I hope you finish it! I'm doing some sets like this I don't expect to actually complete but it is a fun time chasing them. When they're this tough, each pick up is a big step

[GasHouseGang]

Here's one.

[GasHouseGang]

There are two Jack Dempsey's for those that don't know.

Nonpareil Jack Dempsey was an American boxer

Born: December 15, 1862 Ireland
Died: November 2, 1895 (aged 32) Portland Oregon
Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, byname of John Edward Kelly, (born December 15, 1862, Curran, County Kildare, Ireland—died November 2, 1895, Portland, Oregon, U.S.), Irish-born American bare-knuckle fighter who was the world middleweight champion from 1884 to 1891.

Dempsey, who moved to the United States as a young child, was a proficient wrestler before he began his career as a boxer. For his first fight he gave his name as Jack Dempsey, and he fought under that name thereafter. (Fighting under an assumed name was not uncommon, as boxing was illegal and not entirely socially acceptable.) Years later a young heavyweight named William Harrison Dempsey paid tribute to the great bare-knuckle fighter by boxing under the same name, Jack Dempsey. Since two great fighters are known by this name, the first is also referred to by his ring name, the Nonpareil (“unequaled”).

Dempsey frequently fought men who had a great weight advantage over him; during his career as a middleweight, he never weighed more than a welterweight.

Dempsey lost his title on January 14, 1891, to Bob Fitzsimmons. He continued fighting for a few years, but by 1895 the tuberculosis he had contracted had severely weakened him, and he retired to Portland, Oregon, hoping that he could regain his health. He died a few months later. Dempsey was inducted into The Ring magazine’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.

So with that in mind, and the fact that the "second Jack Dempsey" competed from 1914 to 1927, I'm assuming this card depicts Nonpareil Jack Dempsey?

[G1911]

Yes sir, the T220 is the original Nonpareil. T220 was a retrospective set covering back to the 1810's instead of all current boxers, like T218.

[Alexcards]

2 variations

1893 N266 DEMPSEY.jpg

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Alexcards

2 variations

Both N266's, you got some great stuff buddy!

A much more pedestrian Dempsey:

[G1911]

And my last (and favorite) Dempsey piece:

[Exhibitman]

Actually, PSA has mislabeled the first one; it is not a Red Cross card, it is some sort of cut. I have one too, from that same find:



Most salient point is that it has no advertising on it.

[GasHouseGang]

This poster shows a Jack Dempsey that apparently was never released.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

This poster shows a Jack Dempsey that apparently was never released.

I'd love to know what I'm looking at here. 19th century ad, or one of those modern fantasy productions? Beautiful piece