Latest Pickups

[yanksfan09]

Every once in a while I get the urge to pick up another vintage boxing card. Once I saw these C. 1908 Birmingham Smallwares Jack Johnson postcards, I had to have them! Images are incredible. Just arrived today. Anyone have more info on these? I'm assuming these are some of the earliest Jack Johnson cards/ collectibles? I have a 1909 Ogdens "RC" already. Also picked up my first period John Sullivan piece (CDV) and the 1909 Jeffries/Johnson/McVey playing card, another Rookie era piece. These smallwares are now my favorite boxing pieces now of my relatively small boxing collection. The one of Jack Johnson in the suit and top hat may be my favorite of the bunch!

Any idea if PSA grades/slabs these? I don't think they have yet but not sure if they will? I think I'll probably have slabbed by SGC at some point, they all have some glue residue on the backs anyway except the one already graded 2.5.

[Jerry G]

Erick, those Birminghams are amazing in quality and subject! They are all new to me. Thanks for sharing.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Jerry G

Erick, those Birminghams are amazing in quality and subject! They are all new to me. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, those are fantastic.

Even that Johnson/McVey card, which isn't that rare, but is probably my favorite boxing card of all time.

[yanksfan09]

Thanks Jerry and Dave!

[Exhibitman]

Great stuff!

The set is likely a 1908-1909 mix since it has a post-fight image and the fight was 12/26/08. I doubt they'd have sold the card for only a week.

I don't know if PSA would grade them but I think SGC would. We (all) really need to try and get PSA grading more boxing stuff. If I wasn't so busy at work and trying to get the next edition of my book done before the National, I would try to press them to up their game, for purely selfish reasons: I have a ton of cards of HOFers that they would need to grade so I could register a HOF set. There are lots of HOFers w/o cards that PSA grades.

[yanksfan09]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Great stuff!

The set is likely a 1908-1909 mix since it has a post-fight image and the fight was 12/26/08. I doubt they'd have sold the card for only a week.

I don't know if PSA would grade them but I think SGC would. We (all) really need to try and get PSA grading more boxing stuff. If I wasn't so busy at work and trying to get the next edition of my book done before the National, I would try to press them to up their game, for purely selfish reasons: I have a ton of cards of HOFers that they would need to grade so I could register a HOF set. There are lots of HOFers w/o cards that PSA grades.

Thanks Adam,

Great info! Do you have an image of the post fight one? Any idea of total number of cards in the set? Can't seem to find much info on them.

I'm thrilled to say I just met a local collector/ dealer today and did a deal for 2 more of these that I did not yet have!

Noticed another interesting thing. They are slightly different sizes, neither trimmed. The smaller one is on slightly darker/creamier card-stock and has a different PC back (KODAK AUSTRAL Stamp box). That's the #9 "Ready for a left hook". The smaller one also has a slightly smaller, more compact photo area inside the white border. This Kodak #9 is also the same image as image as the #11 I had with different caption.

The #5 "Ready to deliver left uppercut" I got is like the rest I already have on brighter card stock and the same size as others.

I'm assuming that likely all cards from the set were presumably issued with both PC backs. Seems like the KODAK ones originate from Australia, in promotion of the fight, while others from UK I believe? Ever seen any other PC backs?

[Bugsy]

Just picked up two more Tommy Gibbons pieces for my St. Paul boxers collection.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Thanks Adam,

Great info! Do you have an image of the post fight one? Any idea of total number of cards in the set? Can't seem to find much info on them.

I'm thrilled to say I just met a local collector/ dealer today and did a deal for 2 more of these that I did not yet have!

Noticed another interesting thing. They are slightly different sizes, neither trimmed. The smaller one is on slightly darker/creamier card-stock and has a different PC back (KODAK AUSTRAL Stamp box). That's the #9 "Ready for a left hook". The smaller one also has a slightly smaller, more compact photo area inside the white border. This Kodak #9 is also the same image as image as the #11 I had with different caption.

The #5 "Ready to deliver left uppercut" I got is like the rest I already have on brighter card stock and the same size as others.

I'm assuming that likely all cards from the set were presumably issued with both PC backs. Seems like the KODAK ones originate from Australia, in promotion of the fight, while others from UK I believe? Ever seen any other PC backs?

Those are great postcard images. I wish the cards of him were as good!

[Exhibitman]

That Gibbons card is a prize. I was an underbidder but I had too much invested in other things.