Lot # 2841: 1889 N87 Duke "Shadows" Complete Set (50) Plus Tobacco Premium Album

Complete set of fifty 1888 N87 Duke "Shadows" cards. Rarely offered set of these very unusual and amusing nineteenth-century tobacco cards which so effectively provide a window into the culture and humor of America in the 1880s, as well as its shortcomings: Of particular note is the extreme racism that is reflected by four cards in the set. Issued with Duke's Cigarettes, each card illustrates a head shot with title of an individual in the foreground, casting a shadow of a different animal in the background, designed to provide a humorous effect (reminiscent of similar visual gags that appeared in Mad magazine many decades later). The back of each card features a checklist of the set. Condition is 24% Vg-Ex to Ex, 54% Gd to Vg, and 22% lesser. Also included is a rare tobacco premium album issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. for this "Shadows" card set. In the 1880s, in addition to insert cards, tobacco companies also offered special albums available only by mail in exchange for coupons (usually 75 or 100) which were packed with tobacco one coupon per pack. Each premium album features images of all of the subjects (usually 50 different) in a given set, along with additional background artwork. These souvenir albums were the top prizes offered by the tobacco companies, and have long been highly valued by collectors. Many collectors are familiar with the few albums featuring baseball players as they are very popular and expensive. The nonsport albums are just as scarce. This "Shadows" album, classified as A31, pictures the complete set of fifty cards. The album is in modest condition overall, with most of the condition issues confined to the covers, which display heavy creasing, small spots of paper loss, and a couple of small pieces missing from the perimeter. The binding is partially detached. The interior pages are clean and display vibrant colors, with wrinkles across each corner. This is an extremely unusual and very rarely offered complete set and premium album. Total: 50 cards plus album.