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Problems Tobacco Card Collectors Face (Part II)
6 April 2007Early Food Issues
After several years of success with tobacco cards, manufacturers of candy, bread, and other food companies were showing an interest in creating their own baseball cards. They believed that if sports cards would sell tobacco products, then why not candy? Thus, candy issues began appearing throughout the hobby. It was the birth of "E" cards (as they later were designated by the American Card Catalog).
E cards were primarily distributed by caramel candy companies. Unlike tobacco cards, kids were the main target. Most candy cards are similar in design to tobacco issues, but the high quality of paper and printing is missing on most. Some of the E cards were printed almost exactly like their tobacco counterparts. Only the card backs were changed slightly. Also, except for the E-107 set, all caramel sets are color issues.
Grammatical Errors
Some early sports cards contain spelling errors. For instance, it’s common to find cards with a misspelled player or team name. Others simply offer an abbreviated spelling of the player’s name, though not technically a misprint (Chas. for Charles). Although some colectors consider these variations as errors and colect them as such, it really hasn’t been a major concern for most collectors today. As previous stated, collectors are just happy to own an old card. Ironically, in at least one incident, a potential forgery was discovered without the original error; the player’s name was spelled correctly when it should have been spelled erroneously like the legitimate card.
Grading Older Cards
Many of the baseball cards found today have one or more of the previously mentioned condition problems. Thus, they’re graded differently by collectors. In short, tobacco or candy cards from the pre-1930s, even though they may grade as good or fair today, are acceptable in lessor conditions. Condition isn’t as important for these cards as it is with newer cards.
With respect, such early 20th century cards carry an added premium over post-WWII cards. Since the process of grading is a very sensitive and broadly debated part of the hobby, I suggest you buy a copy of Allan Hager’s Comprehensive Price Guide to Rare Baseball Cards: 1886 to Present, and Basebal Cards Questins & Answers. For accurate information regarding condtion, grading, and value of sports, got to PSA, a company that is respected by the hobby as the "final say" in a card’s condition.
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