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