Lot # 953: 1952 to 1955 Red Man Tobacco Collection (89) Including 23 Hall of Famers

Collection of eighty-nine cards from four different Red Man Tobacco sets spanning the years 1952 to 1955, highlighted by twenty-three Hall of Famers including Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider (signed). Red Man Tobacco cards are far rarer than most 1950s baseball cards. Because of their tabs (which were designed to be hand-cut and redeemed for prizes) and method of issue, they often have condition problems. All but two cards (noted below) in this collection are complete with tabs. This collection consists of the following: 1) 1952 Red Man (19 cards): Condition is 68% Gd to Vg (including two Vg-Ex) and 32% Pr to Fr. Includes: #2A, 2N Ashburn (Fr), 4A, 4N, 6A Doby (Fr), 7N, 11A, 12A, 12N Kiner (Fr-Gd), 13N, 15A Minoso (Vg+), 16A, 18N Roberts (Vg-Ex), 19A, 19N Schoendienst (Vg), 21N Snider (signed with blue ballpoint pen, otherwise Gd+), 22A, 23A Williams (Pr-Fr), and 26N. 2) 1953 Red Man (27 cards): Twenty-three cards display a slight trim, otherwise ranging in appearance from Ex to Nr/Mt. The four untrimmed cards grade Ex-Mt, Ex+, Vg (no tab), and Pr (no tab). Includes: #2A, 4A, 5A Fox (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex), 5N Campanella (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex-Mt), 6A, 7A, 7N, 8A Kell (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex), 8N, 9N (without tab), 10A Rizzuto (trimmed left edge, otherwise Nr/Mt), 10N Reese (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex-Mt), 11A, 11N Roberts (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex-Mt+), 12A, 12N Schoendienst (trimmed left edge, otherwise Ex-Mt), 14A Wynn (trimmed left edge, otherwise Nr/Mt+), two 15A (one without tab), 16A, 18N, 19N Spahn (trimmed left and top edges, otherwise Ex-Mt), two 20N, 24A, 25A, and 26A. 3) 1954 Red Man (13 cards): Condition ranges from Gd to Vg-Ex (averaging Vg). Includes: #5A, two 6A, 9A, 9N, 10A, 10N Schoendienst (Vg), 12A, 12N, 13A, 14N, 19N, and 25A. 4) 1955 Red Man (30 cards): Condition is 20% Vg-Ex, 50% Gd to Vg, and 30% Pr to Fr. Includes: #3A Ford (Vg), 5N, two 6A, 8N, 9A, 9N, 10A, 10N Spahn (Gd+), 11A, 11N, 13N, 15A, 16N Kluszewski (Gd), 17A, 17N Reese (Gd), 18A Doby (Vg-Ex), 18N Schoendienst (Gd), 19A, 20A, two 20N, 21A, 21N, 22A, 22N, 23A, 23N, 25A, and 25N. We consider Red Mans to represent one of the best values of all cards from the era. They are very substantial, colorful, interesting, and much rarer than bubble-gum cards of the era, yet are valued very modestly compared to most other issues of the early 1950s. This is a very substantial and attractive medium- to lower-grade collection of these unusual cards, containing several notable highlights. Total: 89 cards. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA (for the one signed card).