Lot # 2891: 1936 R60 Gum, Inc. "G-Men & Heroes of the Law" Partial Set (125/168) Including 10 SGC- and PSA-Graded Cards Plus Wrapper

Presented is a partial set of 125 different cards (of the 168 in the set) from the 1936 "G-Men & Heroes of the Law" series issued by Gum, Inc. Included is a rare original wrapper. This is one of nonsport-card collecting's all-time classic sets, featuring exciting "official stories" about "G-Men and Famous Police Organizations and Heroes of the Law." One thing the 1930s had in abundance was exciting gangster stories. These cards chronicle law-enforcement adventures in an era that glamorized both the representatives of law enforcement and the criminals. In the world of card collecting, "G-Men" (as the set is often referred to) has always been a very special set. Advanced collectors are well aware that "G-Men & Heroes of the Law" is not a set that is often seen complete. In fact, for decades (really, since 1936) collectors have had to contend with the fact that the set includes five extreme rarities (#28, 57, 88, 94, and 100) and numerous additional rare cards, not to mention the 48 rare high-number cards (#201-451). In addition to being one of the most interesting and sought-after of all 1930s gum-card issues, this is a set that simply is rarely completed at all. This set includes three of the extreme rarities, six (#1, 6, 7, 8, 16, and 24) "no copyright" strip-card variations (a subset found only for cards #1-24), and a scarcer red ampersand variation (#151). Ten cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by SGC (7) and PSA (3). Grading Composite (SGC unless noted): #10 (EX 60), 18 (EX+ 70), 208 (PSA VG 3), 219 (PSA VG-EX 4), 248 (VG+ 45), 266 (GOOD 30), 277 (VG 40), 283 (PSA VG 3), 381 (GOOD 30, scratches on holder), and 424 (VG+ 45). Condition composite: The 105 low-number series cards (#1-196) grade as follows: 20% Ex to Ex-Mt (mostly Ex and including three "no copyright" variations that are trimmed through the perforations), 60% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 20% lesser (including a few that measure a bit small, three trimmed, and a couple with a slight miscut). The 21 high-number series cards (#201-451) grade as follows: three Vg-Ex, ten Vg, five Gd, and three Pr to Fr. Key rarities: #57 Mining For Murder (measures small, otherwise Vg+), 88 Target of Death (Gd+), and 100 The Dragnet Snares Its Prey (Vg+). Missing the following 43 cards for completion: #28 "G-Men Deliver Death," 38, 43, 49, 64, 76, 83, 94 "G-Men Strike In The Dark," 107, 115, 121, 136, 169, 191, 196, 201, 203, 206, 210, 212, 214, 233, 239, 257, 271, 281, 307, 319, 326, 335, 349, 355, 362, 371, 389, 401, 405, 415, 419, 427, 431, 445, and 451. This set is accompanied by an original wax wrapper in Very Good condition. Also included is an example from the similar c.1950 Chewing Gum Products "G-Men" series produced in Australia (#43 "The Clue of the Chiming Clock"). This is a very attractive and mostly mid-grade group that would provide a great start to collecting this fascinating and beautiful nonsport issue. Total: 127 items (near set of 125, one Chewing Gum Products "G-Men" card, and one wrapper).