Lot # 878: 1948 Topps "Magic Photos" Multi-Sport Complete Set (252) Plus Album

Presented is an impressive 252-card complete set of 1948 Topps "Magic Photos" including an original album. Most assume that the first Topps card issues were in 1951. In fact, the very first Topps card issue was the unusual "Magic Photos" set of 1948. This was also Topps' first baseball-card set. Among the 19 subsets that make up the set is a 19-card subset of baseball players including Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Mack, Johnson, Alexander, Mathewson, Hornsby, Speaker, Young, Sisler, Tinker, and Evers. Other subjects represented include boxers (Dempsey, Tunney, Jeffries, Willard, Johnson, Louis, etc.), and various nonsport topics, including famous movie stars, buildings, famous personalities, cowboys, championship dogs, etc. These "self-developing" cards (7/8 x 1-7/16 inches) were called "Magic Photos" because, when issued, they had blank fronts, and the sepia photos on the fronts could be developed by youngsters exposing them to the sun. This set has always been very popular among nonsport collectors, but its great significance as Topps' first baseball card set has never fully been appreciated by baseball-card collectors. This might be due, in part, to the fact that the self-developing process produced very inconsistent results, and many cards that have survived have photos that are very poorly developed. In terms of overall condition and photo quality, this complete set is better than the norm, with the majority having pleasing contrast and detail. Only a modest percentage are partially developed. Condition is 12% Ex or slightly better, 53% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 35% lesser (including approximately 5% trimmed). Keys: #6-K Ruth (Gd), 10-K Mathewson (Gd-Vg), 13-K Cobb (Gd due solely to mild back damage), and 14-K Gehrig (Vg+). The set is accompanied by an original album that displays pencil marks on the inside back cover, otherwise presenting in Very Good condition. This is a very significant and scarce early Topps issue, which has always been somewhat overlooked by collectors, perhaps because of its unusual design and dimensions. This is a very attractive set of 1948 Topps "Magic Photos," only the third full 252-card complete set we have offered in the past 22 years. Total: 252 cards and an album.