Lot # 2799: 1938 R69 Gum, Inc. "Horrors of War" Near-Complete Set (284/288)

A very presentable medium- to lower-grade near-complete set of "Horrors of War." Missing just the following four cards for completion: #19, 211, 236, and 284. The 284 cards include forty-seven of the forty-eight rare high-number cards (#241-288). Condition composite: The low-number series cards (#1-240) grade as follows: 5% Vg-Ex to Ex, 43% Gd to Vg, and 52% Pr to Fr (including three trimmed and a couple that measure small). The high-number series cards (#241-288) grade as follows: 44% Gd to Vg (including a couple slightly better) and 56% Pr to Fr (including six trimmed). Keys: #1 "Marco Polo Bridge Is Scene of First Fighting" (ink initials on reverse, otherwise Gd), 240 "The Frightful Cost of War" (Vg), 277 "Hitler's Border Tour Raises War Scare" (Pr), 283 "Hitler Threatens Force to Free Sudetens" (Gd), and 286 "Chamberlain Meets Hitler in Peace Effort" (Vg-Ex). Gum, Inc.'s "Horrors of War" is perhaps the single most famous nonsport card set ever issued. The sensational graphics and the politically charged descriptions on their reverses also made this series perhaps the most controversial set ever issued. Looking over these cards, and realizing that the scenes depicted were not ancient history but then-current world events unfolding at the time, we find it almost inconceivable that these cards were actually issued to youngsters with bubble gum. Death, destruction, and bloodshed characterize the artwork of the set. Youngsters went wild. Parents went wilder. The set's place in the history of card collecting is forever secure. "Horrors of War" was originally planned to be 240 cards, and was even sold in a 240-card set form. Later the additional forty-eight high-number cards (#241-288) were added to the set. The high-number series cards are particularly rare. This is a very pleasing medium- to lower-grade near-complete set (#1-288) of this classic and extremely popular issue. Total: 284 cards.