Lot # 2877: 1934 to 1958 Carreras, Parkhurst, Quaker Oats, and Vita-Brits "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Complete and Near-Complete Set Collection (4 Sets, 229 Cards) Plus Wrapper and Six Milk Dud Complete Boxes

Presented is a very attractive collection of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" cards and memorabilia from various publishers, spanning the years 1934 to 1974. Beginning as a syndicated cartoon strip in 1919, "Ripley's Believe It or Not" gradually turned into a multi-media phenomenon that continues to this day. Each card in the collection features an incredible true story or fact from Ripley's research archives. This collection consists of the following: 1) 1934 Carreras "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Complete Set (50): All cards are hand cut. Without further reference to the hand cuts, 80% range in appearance from Ex to Nr/Mt-Mt (averaging Ex-Mt), 20% lesser (mostly Vg-Ex). 2) 1934 J.D. Moreno & Co. "Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium" Postcards Complete Set (12) Plus Descriptive Booklet and Souvenir Card: Condition of the set is Vg to Vg-Ex overall. Condition of the booklet is Very Good due to creasing. The souvenir card (Excellent condition) displays an embedded example of "rice writing" by Homma, one of the postcard subjects. 3) 1953 Parkhurst "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Complete Set (100) Plus Wrapper: Condition of the set is 12% Ex or slightly better, 60% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 28% lesser (mostly Fr to Gd). Condition of the cardboard wrapper is Excellent. Includes one color variation of #3. 4) 1953 Quaker Oats "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Near-Complete Set (49/50): Condition is 10% Nr/Mt or better, 63% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 27% Vg to Vg-Ex (including two slightly lesser). Missing #47 for completion. 5) 1958 Vita-Brits "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Complete Set (30): Condition is 33% Nr/Mt or better, 43% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 24% Vg to Vg-Ex (including a couple lesser). 6) 1974 Milk Duds "Ripley's Believe It or Not" Complete Boxes (6): The condition of the card portion of the boxes is four Nr/Mt or better, Vg-Ex, and Vg. Very attractive collection of these fascinating nonsport-card issues. Total: 251 items (242 cards, 6 boxes, one wrapper, one booklet, and one souvenir card).