1887 N28 Allen & Ginter
The Allen & Ginter brand, once a prominent cigarette label in the 1800s, has made a resurgence in the modern collector's realm, thanks to Topps' retro-styled releases from 2006 onwards. However, vintage collectors have long revered the 1887 N28 Allen & Ginter Baseball set as a classic in the hobby. This particular set stands out not only for its association with baseball but for the diverse range of subjects it covered, including flags, birds, actresses, world leaders, Indian chiefs, and more. Topps' recent issues have emphasized the vast array of themes present in the 19th-century sets, underscoring that baseball was just a small facet of the collecting landscape during that era.
The most renowned Allen & Ginter set emerged in 1887 under the "World's Champions" banner, showcasing 50 athletes across various sports. The cards' fronts boasted vibrant lithograph paintings surrounded by a white border, with some featuring additional sport-related images. Notably, baseball player cards lacked these extra images. Beneath the picture, each card displayed the athlete's name, an Allen & Ginter advertisement, and a note about the company's headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. On the reverse side, a checklist listed all 50 athletes along with their respective sports.
Interestingly, only ten cards in the set featured baseball players, with six of them being Hall of Famers. This limited inclusion of baseball players adds allure for collectors, but some may overlook the non-baseball subjects. However, these non-baseball cards carry added value, often featuring legendary personalities from American history like sharpshooter Annie Oakley, showman Wild Bill Cody, and boxer John L. Sullivan.
The comprehensive set covers a broad spectrum of sports and activities, encompassing baseball players, boxers (referred to as pugilists), wrestlers, oarsmen, rifle shooters, and billiards and pool players. In an intriguing move, Allen & Ginter also provided the option for collectors to obtain the same 50 images from the set in a premium album by exchanging coupons. This approach likely added an extra layer of excitement for collectors seeking a comprehensive and visually striking compilation of sports and historical personalities.
The most renowned Allen & Ginter set emerged in 1887 under the "World's Champions" banner, showcasing 50 athletes across various sports. The cards' fronts boasted vibrant lithograph paintings surrounded by a white border, with some featuring additional sport-related images. Notably, baseball player cards lacked these extra images. Beneath the picture, each card displayed the athlete's name, an Allen & Ginter advertisement, and a note about the company's headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. On the reverse side, a checklist listed all 50 athletes along with their respective sports.
Interestingly, only ten cards in the set featured baseball players, with six of them being Hall of Famers. This limited inclusion of baseball players adds allure for collectors, but some may overlook the non-baseball subjects. However, these non-baseball cards carry added value, often featuring legendary personalities from American history like sharpshooter Annie Oakley, showman Wild Bill Cody, and boxer John L. Sullivan.
The comprehensive set covers a broad spectrum of sports and activities, encompassing baseball players, boxers (referred to as pugilists), wrestlers, oarsmen, rifle shooters, and billiards and pool players. In an intriguing move, Allen & Ginter also provided the option for collectors to obtain the same 50 images from the set in a premium album by exchanging coupons. This approach likely added an extra layer of excitement for collectors seeking a comprehensive and visually striking compilation of sports and historical personalities.
