Lot # 2798: 1935 R36 Fleer "Cops and Robbers" Complete Set (35)

Presented is a complete 35-card set of one of the most fascinating gum card sets ever issued: the 1935 R36 Fleer "Cops and Robbers" series. This is a very rare set. It is easy to see why this set has always been a favorite with collectors. Issued in the heart of the 1930s, when the adventures of real criminals such as Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger were covered daily by newspapers across the land, each card (2-7/8 x 3-1/8 inches) in this set features a portrait of a police officer (five cards) or criminal (thirty cards). There are five different background color variations for each subject. The back of each "Robbers" card features a detailed description of his crime, and the "Cops" card has a multiple choice question related to which criminal that officer might be pursuing. All the characters in the set are fictional. The cards were originally issued with perforated tabs attached to the top (which were designed to be cut). Cards with tabs are rarely offered and a complete set with tabs would be virtually impossible to assemble. Each card in this set is missing the original tab. Condition is 28% Ex to Ex-Mt, 52% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 20% lesser. Four cards have been graded and encapsulated by SGC: #1 (VG 40), 4 (VG 40), 16 (EX 60), and 30 (VG 40). The color breakdown is as follows: Brown (3 cards): #5, 9, and 17. Green (1 card):#15. Orange (11 cards):#4, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 23, 25, 27, 28, and 34. Purple (8 cards): #2, 8, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, and 33. Red (12 cards): #1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 35. One of Fleer's earliest gum-card efforts, this is an extremely attractive set with outstanding eye appeal. Fleer's "Cops and Robbers" are rarely offered as a complete set and are highly prized by nonsport gum-card collectors. Total: 35 cards.