Pre-War Card Collector
@prewarcards.bsky.social
By Anson Whaley, a pre-war collector of sports and non-sports cards. Beckett and Sports Collectors Daily contributor. T205, T206, T207 baseball cards set builder. Scruffy looking. 2025 SABR Burdick Award Winner. Find my site at www.prewarcollector.com.
To kick off its 2025 Allen & Ginter launch, Topps interviewed some collectors about their A&G collections. Really cool that they wrote an article on my original Allen & Ginter 1888 and 1889 (N28/N29) 'Champions' set builds. You'll find it here: ripped.topps.com/collector-st...
Collector Stories | Old-School Allen & Ginter Prewar Cards
Anson Whaley’s interest in vintage cards led him to complete the pre-war N28 and N29 Allen & Ginter runs, but that’s just part of his impressive collection.
ripped.topps.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To kick off its 2025 Allen & Ginter launch, Topps interviewed some collectors about their A&G collections. Really cool that they wrote an article on my original Allen & Ginter 1888 and 1889 (N28/N29) 'Champions' set builds. You'll find it here: ripped.topps.com/collector-st...
I'm often asked how so many trade cards from pre-1900 can exist. This one offering medicine explicitly says on the back that more than FIVE MILLION of their cards alone were printed. Millions of cards have been discarded but that helps explain how so many have survived. #Cardsky
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I'm often asked how so many trade cards from pre-1900 can exist. This one offering medicine explicitly says on the back that more than FIVE MILLION of their cards alone were printed. Millions of cards have been discarded but that helps explain how so many have survived. #Cardsky
I recently posted the rare card of Harley Davidson that I acquired but what is it? Here's a rundown. prewarcollector.com/2025/12/01/h...
The Most Popular Roller Skating Card of Them All: A Harley Davidson (No, not that one)
Harley Davidson’s T224/T229 Pet/Kopec Cigarettes roller skating card is arguably the most famous of them all
prewarcollector.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I recently posted the rare card of Harley Davidson that I acquired but what is it? Here's a rundown. prewarcollector.com/2025/12/01/h...
Is it John or is it Arthur? My latest article is a rundown of the confusing 1895 Mayo baseball card that was either intended to feature a Hall of Famer or a journeyman. prewarcollector.com/2025/11/30/j...
What’s the Deal with John Clarkson’s 1894-95 Mayo Card?
The card of John Clarkson in the 1894-95 N300 Mayo baseball card set is a mystery
prewarcollector.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Is it John or is it Arthur? My latest article is a rundown of the confusing 1895 Mayo baseball card that was either intended to feature a Hall of Famer or a journeyman. prewarcollector.com/2025/11/30/j...
If you had told me at the start of the year that one of my bigger card purchases would be a roller skater, I would have thought you were insane. Yet, here we are. #Cardsky
November 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
If you had told me at the start of the year that one of my bigger card purchases would be a roller skater, I would have thought you were insane. Yet, here we are. #Cardsky
I've wanted the famous 1966 Topps Batman No. 1 card for some time now. I just wasn't enamored with one enough to buy it. That changed when I found this hand-cut, blank back scrap rarity. I've seen a few proof/scraps for other cards in the set before, but never on the key No. 1. #Cardsky
November 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I've wanted the famous 1966 Topps Batman No. 1 card for some time now. I just wasn't enamored with one enough to buy it. That changed when I found this hand-cut, blank back scrap rarity. I've seen a few proof/scraps for other cards in the set before, but never on the key No. 1. #Cardsky
One of the great pre-war mysteries are these handcrafted cards using silhouettes of seemingly either E94 Close Candy or M131 Baltimore News cards. I've seen 2-3 of these and have heard of a collector with several more. Backs signed by someone named Richard Montague. Here's my Red Murray. #Cardsky
November 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
One of the great pre-war mysteries are these handcrafted cards using silhouettes of seemingly either E94 Close Candy or M131 Baltimore News cards. I've seen 2-3 of these and have heard of a collector with several more. Backs signed by someone named Richard Montague. Here's my Red Murray. #Cardsky
Just some peas in a pod on this early baseball trade card that is likely from the 19th century. This one is designated as No. 222 by Frank Keetz and features miniature men (brownies) playing a game of baseball using peas as the baseballs. #Cardsky
November 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Just some peas in a pod on this early baseball trade card that is likely from the 19th century. This one is designated as No. 222 by Frank Keetz and features miniature men (brownies) playing a game of baseball using peas as the baseballs. #Cardsky
1920s baseball and non-sports strip cards are common. But to date, the only hockey strip card I've ever seen is the one in the W542 multi-sport strip card series. Anyone know of any others? #Cardsky
November 13, 2025 at 7:47 PM
1920s baseball and non-sports strip cards are common. But to date, the only hockey strip card I've ever seen is the one in the W542 multi-sport strip card series. Anyone know of any others? #Cardsky
A card you don't see everyday -- 1921 D48 Invisible Color Pictures issued by bakeries. When you add water, they filled in with color. This one avoided that fate. This is the baseball card in a mostly non-sports set. I believe mine is the only graded example by either SGC or PSA. #Cardsky
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A card you don't see everyday -- 1921 D48 Invisible Color Pictures issued by bakeries. When you add water, they filled in with color. This one avoided that fate. This is the baseball card in a mostly non-sports set. I believe mine is the only graded example by either SGC or PSA. #Cardsky
I was having a hard time finding the title of the N85 Duke Stamps card on the left. That's because it wasn't there. While normal variations of this card title it, "First Letter Carrier," this one has a print error and is missing the title. First one I've seen missing from this set. #Cardsky
November 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I was having a hard time finding the title of the N85 Duke Stamps card on the left. That's because it wasn't there. While normal variations of this card title it, "First Letter Carrier," this one has a print error and is missing the title. First one I've seen missing from this set. #Cardsky
About time I get another new article up on the website - #Cardsky
prewarcollector.com/2025/11/10/b...
prewarcollector.com/2025/11/10/b...
Setting the Record Straight on a Babe Ruth Stereoview Card
Let’s clear up some confusion on a popular Babe Ruth card
prewarcollector.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
About time I get another new article up on the website - #Cardsky
prewarcollector.com/2025/11/10/b...
prewarcollector.com/2025/11/10/b...
I already had the Pratt's Astral Oil version of the 1883 Root & Tinker trade card of the Statue of Liberty. In today's mail was the New Singer variant, advertising sewing machines. These are often cited as the first cards of the famous landmark. #Cardsky
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I already had the Pratt's Astral Oil version of the 1883 Root & Tinker trade card of the Statue of Liberty. In today's mail was the New Singer variant, advertising sewing machines. These are often cited as the first cards of the famous landmark. #Cardsky
Another interesting post-war pickup is this 1953 Fher Sport Magico card of the Harlem Globetrotters. Tough set designed to be viewed with 3D glasses. More importantly, it is recognized as the first card of the famous basketball team. This is the only graded SGC example. #Cardsky
November 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Another interesting post-war pickup is this 1953 Fher Sport Magico card of the Harlem Globetrotters. Tough set designed to be viewed with 3D glasses. More importantly, it is recognized as the first card of the famous basketball team. This is the only graded SGC example. #Cardsky
This is one of those sets that I built but didn't really focus on. I picked up these 1905 Ullman College Sports postcards on occasion and today, secured the Chicago card, the last one needed. That's 8/8 on this unique set that includes seven football and only one baseball card. #Cardsky
November 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is one of those sets that I built but didn't really focus on. I picked up these 1905 Ullman College Sports postcards on occasion and today, secured the Chicago card, the last one needed. That's 8/8 on this unique set that includes seven football and only one baseball card. #Cardsky
lol, that's hilarious
Today I learned @prewarcards.bsky.social may actually be on a Red Dead Redemption side mission
www.ign.com/wikis/red-de...
www.ign.com/wikis/red-de...
Smoking and Other Hobbies - Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide - IGN
This page takes you through the Stranger Mission or Sidequest Smoking and Other Hobbies in Red Dead Redemption
www.ign.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
lol, that's hilarious
One of the rarer pickups from this year that was in yesterday's mail -- this 19th century salesman's sample cabinet card showing a variety of cards that were available. The most interesting one? This crossed bats image representing baseball. I've got to find the origins of it. #Cardsky
October 28, 2025 at 5:54 PM
One of the rarer pickups from this year that was in yesterday's mail -- this 19th century salesman's sample cabinet card showing a variety of cards that were available. The most interesting one? This crossed bats image representing baseball. I've got to find the origins of it. #Cardsky
One of the real tough cards in the E90-1 American Caramel set is the shortprinted card of catcher Peaches Graham. This one in this yesterday's mail is a nice upgrade for the laminated version I had. #Cardsky
October 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
One of the real tough cards in the E90-1 American Caramel set is the shortprinted card of catcher Peaches Graham. This one in this yesterday's mail is a nice upgrade for the laminated version I had. #Cardsky
Been a while but I added a new 1895 Mayo N300 baseball card today - Dave Foutz. Foutz was both a pitcher and position player. In 1886, he led the league in wins (41) and ERA (2.11). Foutz won an incredible 99 games from 1885-87. This is 20/48 on the complete set for me. #Cardsky
October 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Been a while but I added a new 1895 Mayo N300 baseball card today - Dave Foutz. Foutz was both a pitcher and position player. In 1886, he led the league in wins (41) and ERA (2.11). Foutz won an incredible 99 games from 1885-87. This is 20/48 on the complete set for me. #Cardsky
About 99% of the stuff I buy is pre-war. But every now and then, I let myself indulge in something modern. To date, there are only 129 PSA 10s of Ichiro's first baseball card -- the 1993 BBM. One of those is now in my collection. #Cardsky
October 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
About 99% of the stuff I buy is pre-war. But every now and then, I let myself indulge in something modern. To date, there are only 129 PSA 10s of Ichiro's first baseball card -- the 1993 BBM. One of those is now in my collection. #Cardsky
In today's mail -- this high-grade 1925 Turf/Boguslavsky card featuring Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler. About 300 of these have been graded by PSA in all with only 18 grading higher. Many raw examples. A very tough card to find in a 7 or higher. #Cardsky
October 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
In today's mail -- this high-grade 1925 Turf/Boguslavsky card featuring Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler. About 300 of these have been graded by PSA in all with only 18 grading higher. Many raw examples. A very tough card to find in a 7 or higher. #Cardsky