Collectability of 1930's "premium" cards?

[Belfast1933]

I've just found my way into buying 2 relatively affordable 1939 R303 Goudey premium cards (Dickey and Lombardi - love those old-timey catcher poses and the equally campy and fun "how to" backs)

I'm 99% collector but it's not the worst thing when I see my card values increase from time to time!

I'm curious how other vintage collectors feel about these premium, mail-in issues from back in the day. Are these small, niche only items (hence the lower cost?)

Or do you see the potential for value growth along the lines of postcards and exhibits over the last several years?

Thanks for weighing in - this is a new area of collecting for me and I'd love to hear others' thoughts

Here are my 2 new incoming cards...

[skelly423]

You picked up a great pair of cards, they are really impressive.

I love the look of these types of cards, and think they some of the best images of any cards produced in that time period. Personally I'm a huge fan of the 1936 DiMaggio fine pens.

In general they suffer from the same issue as all oversized cards in that they can be clunky to store. I'd love to own more of them, but just don't have the room to keep them all. I suspect I'm not alone in that problem. I definitely think there's opportunity to grow beyond a tiny niche segment of the hobby, but they're always going to be somewhat limited by their size and will likely never surpass the more conventional cards.

[obcbobd]

Have a few and I love them. Being I'm a collector, I hope the prices go down, so I can afford more :-)

[x2drich2000]

Personally, I like them a lot, however, I don't see much upside financially to them. I feel people in general discount the cards that aren't the "standard size" or close to it. Being large in size a lot of people I don't think actually even consider them cards.

[Leon]

I have a loose definition of "premium" because I like almost everything.
I have been collecting them since I started collecting ...

and a '47 rookie Musial premium...
and a '36 Goudey....

[Al C.risafulli]

These (the R303s) are wonderful cards, and they're among the only evidence of Goudey's purchase of the National Chicle company in 1937 (the backs are also the content of the National Chicle R344 Rabbit Maranville "How To" booklets that appeared in the high number packs of Batter-Ups). The photos are gorgeous (the Lombardi is my favorite), they're challenging to complete (especially the R303-A), and the player selection is excellent.

Plus they're tough to find in higher grades.

I guess none of them will ever explode in value (though don't discount the DiMaggio), but at some point it's got to be about collecting something beautiful and affordable and not as much about what the future value is going to look like, right?

-Al

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

I guess none of them will ever explode in value (though don't discount the DiMaggio), but at some point it's got to be about collecting something beautiful and affordable and not as much about what the future value is going to look like, right?

-Al

+1 !

[G1911]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

Personally, I like them a lot, however, I don't see much upside financially to them. I feel people in general discount the cards that aren't the "standard size" or close to it. Being large in size a lot of people I don't think actually even consider them cards.

I'm in this boat. I have no problem with the size, I collect many cabinets, but the thin paper stock and the presentation really don't seem like cards. Not all photos are cards. It doesn't make them any less cool, but I have to draw some arbitrary lines in collecting or my home would be a disaster. I've encountered others who draw that same, arbitrary line. I have a handful of them.

[Belfast1933]

I'm excited to see these in person... I'm leaning toward NOT getting them graded so I don't have a massive sized slab to have to display.

I think they are about the size of exhibit cards + exhibit card slabs, if I rough measured them right.

I don't want them to look like 8x10 photos, but more like slightly bigger postcards or exhibit cards.

I actually like the way they break up the look of my more conventionally sized cards (similar to how my Yogi Red Man card looks nestled on the shelf next to 5-6 mid 50's Topps and Bowman cards.

[Koufax32fan]

These are some of my favorites - and the fewer people who like them, the better for people that like to collect them.

[robertsmithnocure]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

I guess none of them will ever explode in value (though don't discount the DiMaggio), but at some point it's got to be about collecting something beautiful and affordable and not as much about what the future value is going to look like, right?

-Al

I think that the Williams rookie has already started to explode, and rightfully so. This is not my card, but I love the pose.

[puckpaul]

I love these cards. Very good looking, tough in high grades, some key cards of Joe D and Ted, very undervalued (though the Ted is making its way up for sure). Here are a few I own:

[BabyRuth]

Ruth Premium - I always liked the premiums - more card for the money!

[Jobu]

I think there are some nice items and that the prices are still pretty good, though I think more people are starting to look for them. Here my Grape Nuts Dizzy Dean and my Butterfinger Dizzy and Lou Gehrig.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by robertsmithnocure

I think that the Williams rookie has already started to explode, and rightfully so. This is not my card, but I love the pose.

Wow, love this image of young Ted!

[Belfast1933]

Just to be more accurate, here are the actual 2 that I just picked up. Anyone think these are possible high grade? Or don’t bother?

(Thx for all of the replies and ideas - glad to have found my to these “oddball” items)

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I have always loved these, and I would definitely be buying presentable examples while they're affordable. Does that mean that they're going to go nuts? Probably not, but I don't see them doing anything but marching steadily forward. They are bargains compared to more traditional issues, and in many cases, more attractive.

[todeen]

I love premiums, exhibits, etc. They make a showcase 1000x better!

Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

[Exhibitman]

Love 'em. A million years ago (pre pandemic) I was picking them off at the National and could not believe how cheap HOFers could be. A lot tougher since then. Also a shout out for Wheaties box panels. Some are just marvelous artworks

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Love 'em. A million years ago (pre pandemic) I was picking them off at the National and could not believe how cheap HOFers could be. A lot tougher since then. Also a shout out for Wheaties box panels. Some are just marvelous artworks

What the heck is this and where can I get one?? This is a true baseball work of art (seriously, if I searched eBay for this, what would the serach term be?)

Gorgeous

[puckpaul]

Here are some Greenberg Wheaties boxes, including a full box with three “star athletes”….not as colorful as that Hubbell but fun items.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

What the heck is this and where can I get one?? This is a true baseball work of art (seriously, if I searched eBay for this, what would the serach term be?)

Gorgeous

The colorful ones like the Hubbell Adam showed are identified as 1937 Wheaties. Here is another example from this series that I always thought was far-out and groovy...I like how Bonura is fielding uphill.

Brian

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

The colorful ones like the Hubbell Adam showed are identified as 1937 Wheaties. Here is another example from this series that I always thought was far-out and groovy...I like how Bonura is fielding uphill.

Brian

I might buy one of these tonight! (how much bigger are these vs. traditional cards? Bigger than Exhibits?)

[rhettyeakley]

I love cards/items like these!

I think it is important to note that when many see larger items they automatically assume these were sent in the mail, and in some cases that is correct but many were simply point of sale items. For example Goudey Wide Pens, Nat’l Chicle Fine Pens and R303’s were distributed in a box along with pieces of bubble gum and when you purchased the gum you were either given a picture at random or (if you were lucky) you could choose the photo you wanted.

IMO knowing the method of distribution makes many of them more akin to cards than not.

[paul]

Originally Posted by Belfast1933

I might buy one of these tonight! (how much bigger are these vs. traditional cards? Bigger than Exhibits?)

They're the size of the full back of a cereal box.

[Exhibitman]

More Wheaties artworks from the 1938 Biggest Thrills series

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by paul

They're the size of the full back of a cereal box.

]

The boxes, though, were only about 10 inches tall. Mine readily fit in photo mylars and albums.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

]

The boxes, though, were only about 10 inches tall. Mine readily fit in photo mylars and albums.

Sounds like shrinkflation to me.

[ALBB]

Never been a fan of these. Even when ( years back) you'd see them very cheaply priced. Too thin, odd size,

[Koufax32fan]

Paul - Here is another Hank Wheaties box

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

I love cards/items like these!

I think it is important to note that when many see larger items they automatically assume these were sent in the mail, and in some cases that is correct but many were simply point of sale items. For example Goudey Wide Pens, Nat’l Chicle Fine Pens and R303’s were distributed in a box along with pieces of bubble gum and when you purchased the gum you were either given a picture at random or (if you were lucky) you could choose the photo you wanted.

IMO knowing the method of distribution makes many of them more akin to cards than not.

Yes. I remember my Mother talking about getting larger sized photos directly from the candy store when she was a kid in the 30's

[brianp-beme]

I have never been much of a collector of larger size cards, but this thread gives me a chance to show off my 1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen weaverwaners card.

You are not going to find this type of action on a normal size card.

Brian

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by Koufax32fan

Paul - Here is another Hank Wheaties box

Cool…like that one too! Havent seen that.

[glchen]

I'm a big fan of the larger premiums. Very happy to have recently completed this Leaf Premium run for Ruth.

[brianp-beme]

A little birdie informed that there are 11 pre-production proofs from the 1937 Wheaties like the Hubbell that Adam showed (actually Hubbell is not one of them) are individually listed in the upcoming Love of the Game auction. The auction does include the Bonura that I showed, as well as Joe DiMaggio, Grove, Feller and a couple of other HOF'ers. I didn't realize these proofs existed. Now the proof (used for production for the cereal boxes) is in the pudding (slang for auction).

Here is an example of another from the 1937 Wheaties series. Not mine, but close enough.

Brian (Wheaties are not premiums, but close enough. And close enough is close enough)

[Jcosta19]

I love these cards.
A few of mine.20221117_170231.jpg1936_National_Chicle_R313_Dimaggio-Erickson__SGC-Grade-2_Auth-3573720_Front.jpg20221117_185039.jpgScreenshot_20221117_185423.jpg

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I have never been much of a collector of larger size cards, but this thread gives me a chance to show off my 1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen weaverwaners card.

You are not going to find this type of action on a normal size card.

Brian

Brian nice card. I collect various Premiums and Exhibits. It seems that "cards" from this era have more interesting photos. Like that Weaver Waners card

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I have never been much of a collector of larger size cards, but this thread gives me a chance to show off my 1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen weaverwaners card.

You are not going to find this type of action on a normal size card.

Brian

Or the R312...the R313 after a trip to Earl Scheib's

[Belfast1933]

As OP, I wanted to show off the great new additions on arrival day… ❤️ the 3 catcher look from the 1930’s here. The variety of the “card” sizes really works for me!

[NiceDocter]

Man what a great display…… very cool background and lots of great and “eclectic “ items ….. you’ve done well and not spent an arm and a leg to do it!! Hope you can add a few more shelves if you need to ….. there’s lots of cool and relatively inexpensive items to be found!! Happy collecting!!!! Rocky

[Webster]

Here is a great link with background on the distribution of the 1939 "Premiums" including R303 variations and V351s. The R303-Bs were actually sold for a penny each. The V351s were received in exchange for WWG wrappers. Unclear how the R303-As were distributed.

http://www.1939baseball.com/baseball_cards.html


Here's a pile of V351s....

Unknown.jpg

[puckpaul]

Wow, those V351s are awesome. That Ted!! Nicely done.

[BabyRuth]

Gary,
Love your Leaf triplets!!! Here's mine................

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Also may want to check out our current auction with Wide Pens, Fine Pens, Butter Fingers, Wheaties Panels, etc.

[ecRich]

Love 1930’s premiums and Wheaties. Picked up some complete boxes over the years.

[glchen]

Originally Posted by BabyRuth

Gary,
Love your Leaf triplets!!! Here's mine................

Hi Jim, I really like your Leaf's also! Great cards!

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by ecRich

Love 1930’s premiums and Wheaties. Picked up some complete boxes over the years.

Wow, those are so great! Thx for sharing… hope this isn’t a rude question but how much would I expect to pay to add something like these to my collection? Pretty hard to find, I’d assume?