Lot # 2839: Circa 1888 N285 Buchner & Co. "Morning Glory Maidens" Partial Set (32/51) Plus Seven N286 "Musical Instruments Girls"

Rarely offered partial set of 32 different (out of 51) N285 Buchner "Morning Glory Maidens" cards issued circa 1888. Missing the following 19 cards for completion: February, August, Base Ball, Bicycling, Broom Drill, Carpenter, Diana, Hunting, Laundry Girl, On The Trapeze, Polo, Shooting, The Baker, The Ballet, The Barber, The Boxer, The Hay Maker, The Mail Carrier, and The Photographer. This attractive set can be found with two back variations: "Finest" or "Bravest" Chewing and Smoking Tobacco redemption backs and Morning Glory Tobacco checklist backs. This collection consists entirely of checklist backs. Each card features a colorful, graphically detailed lithographic image of a woman attired for a sport or trade, or simply representing one of the twelve months of the calendar year. Also included in this collection are seven different examples from the similarly themed (and similarly rare) N286 Buchner "Musical Instruments Girls" series. The condition of the partial set is 22% Ex or slightly better, 66% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 12% lesser. Keys: "Cricket" (Ex-Mt) and"Foot Ball" (Ex). The seven N286 cards (Band Lyre, Bugler of Musketeers, Genoese Harpist, Hungarian Violinist, Italian Troubadour, Oriental Tambourist, and Trombone) grade three Ex, two Vg-Ex, Vg, and Pr. All seven cards display Morning Glory Tobacco back variations, with checklists for the N285 series. This is a very attractive partial set, with fascinating subject matter, and with outstanding eye-appeal. This very scarce issue is rarely seen as a complete or even partially complete set, and is highly prized by 19th century nonsport tobacco-card collectors. Total: 39 cards (partial set of 32 plus seven N286s).