Lot # 1180: 1955 Red Man Tobacco Near-Complete Set (48/50)

Near-complete set of forty-eight different cards (out of fifty in the set) from the 1955 Red Man Tobacco series plus three duplicates (#6A, 11N, and 21A). This was the last of the four Red Man sets issued from 1952 to 1955. Red Man Tobacco cards are among the most beautiful cards ever issued and also represent one of the best values of all cards from the 1950s. These cards have long been a special favorite of collectors, and with good reason: They are far rarer than Topps issues from the era; they are unusual; they are relatively small sets; and each set includes so many great stars from the golden era of the early 1950s. The fact that Red Man cards are very challenging to collect in high grade gives them a mystique and all-the-greater appeal to serious collectors. Red Man Tobacco cards are never going out of style with advanced collectors. Red Mans do not get a lot of attention compared to Topps and Bowman but are one of the premier sets of the 1950s. The tab at the bottom of the card has been removed on twelve of the cards in this collection. The condition (without reference to the missing tabs, where applicable) is 19% Vg-Ex to Ex, 63% Gd to Vg, and 18% lesser (including one with color added). Keys (without tabs, unless noted): #1N Ashburn/with tab (Ex), 3A Ford (Gd), 4A Fox/with tab (Vg), 7N Mays (Fr), 8A Lemon/with tab (Pr), 10N Spahn/with tab (Vg), 12N Wilhelm/with tab (Vg-Ex), 14A Wynn (Pr), 16A Berra/with tab (Vg), 17N Reese (Vg), 18A Doby/with tab (Vg-Ex), 18N Schoendienst/with tab (Pr), and 19N Snider (Gd+). Missing just #3N Hodges and 13A for completion. This is a very attractive and mostly mid-grade near-complete set of this striking and unusual issue, and one that we think represents an outstanding value compared to the value of most other cards from the 1950s. Total: 51 cards (near set of 48 plus three duplicates).