1929 New Yorker article on card collecting in the 1880s

[trdcrdkid]

In addition to collecting baseball cards, I'm interested in the history of the hobby, and I've amassed a pretty decent collection of old hobby publications dating back to the 1950s. Among the convention programs I have is one from the 1974 Baseball Nostalgia Expo, run by the Chicagoland Collectors Association. Among the several articles reproduced in this program is one by Arthur H. Folwell from the May 4, 1929 issue of The New Yorker, called "A New York Childhood: Cigarette Pictures", in which the author reminisces about collecting tobacco cards, including Old Judges and Buchner Gold Coin ballplayers, as a child in the late 1880s. It's illustrated with pictures of Old Judges, N28s, an N284, an N162, an N300, and an N690, though I'm not certain whether all of these illustrations are from the original article or whether some were added for the program. Anyway, I scanned the article and thought people would be interested in seeing it. I did a search of the archives here and see that this article was mentioned back in 2007 by someone who e-mailed Leon a copy, but I don't think it has been posted.

[MVSNYC]

Now, THAT, is really cool! Thanks for sharing.

[Vintagecatcher]

David,

Thanks for sharing this fabulous article!

Patrick

[Jay Wolt]

David, good stuff, thanks for posting

[Kawika]

What a terrific article! Really takes you back to another world.
I looked up the original article at the New Yorker archives. Just as you suspected the baseball cards were added in after the fact. Only the A&G Glasscock on the first page was in the original. The Caruthers was actually a card of "Black Eye - Blackfeet Sioux" and the cards on the bottom were all non-sports types. On the other three pages rather than cards there were your typical New Yorker cartoons in the spaces. All the same a delight to read. Thanks for posting.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Thanks for sharing David, I think all of us enjoy reading these stories!

[brianp-beme]

Great article...thanks for posting.

In the article the author alludes to his belief that the Brooklyn Old Judge cards with the bleachers in the background were not actually taken outside, but instead that the bleachers were a part of a painted backdrop. Has anyone else heard of this assertion before...I always thought the bleachers looked real (and made them some of the more special Old Judge cards).

Brian

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Great article...thanks for posting.

In the article the author alludes to his belief that the Brooklyn Old Judge cards with the bleachers in the background were not actually taken outside, but instead that the bleachers were a part of a painted backdrop. Has anyone else heard of this assertion before...I always thought the bleachers looked real (and made them some of the more special Old Judge cards).

Brian

Not exactly. He said they were fake bleachers (and grey grass) for Brooklyn. He then talked about the fake city backdrop for the Chicago players. It remains to be seen if the bleachers and grass were outside or inside, although the author implies that they were taken inside if the grass was grey. But how would you know the color of the grass when the pictures are all black and white/sepia toned?

[sayhey24]

Great read. To put it in a time perspective, this would be the same as someone today writing about collecting 1975 Topps, Hostess and Kellogg's cards.

Greg

[Huysmans]

Amazing article! Its very interesting that the author was concerned with the condition of his cards, and was against "shooting" them. I wish he would've elaborated on where his "thousands" of cards ended up.

[williamcohon]

Thank you for posting. This was really fun to read!

[ullmandds]

I also did NOT know that in the Gold Coin cards similar positioned players all had generic poses...interesting.

I'm guessing collectors back then would shun "freaks" like I/we all did until very recently!

[Louieman]

Thanks for sharing! Good to know if I time travel to the 1880s I don't have to hold back on saying 'dude' all the time