Lot # 2781: 1888 G93 Kinney Bros. "Naval Vessels of the World" Tobacco Card Advertising Banner

Outstanding full-color display advertising poster (15 x 28.5 inches) for the N226 "Naval Vessels of the World" set issued in 1888 by Kinney Brothers, featuring illustrations of all 25 cards in the set. This is one of the rarest and most desirable of all 19th century tobacco banners. The popularity of the "Navel Vessels of the World" card set, and the extraordinary design and graphics of this poster, combine to make it one of the best of all 19th century tobacco advertising banners. Allen & Ginter was the most prolific issuer of cards and advertising materials for those cards in the 1880s, but as rare as Allen & Ginter banners are, tobacco banners for card sets produced by smaller manufacturers such as Kinney Brothers are even rarer. We would be surprised if more than a few of these posters have survived in any condition. The "Naval Vessels of the World" tobacco banner is catalogued in the original American Card Catalog as G93. It was listed by Burdick as one of the catalogue's most highly valued items, listing for $20 at a time when the T206 Wagner card listed as the most expensive of all cards at $50. Of the 129 tobacco banners catalogued by Burdick, only two were listed by Burdick at a higher value (each at $25), both also advertising card sets by smaller manufacturers (Kinney and Duke). These tobacco banners were produced by tobacco companies for display in tobacco stores, to promote their particular brands and card issues. They are perhaps the most finely produced of all advertising displays relating to card collecting and are considered by many to be the greatest prizes of all 19th century tobacco-card collecting. The banner still has the metal hanging strips along the top and bottom edges (these strips are usually lost over the years). Upon very close inspection, the poster has some very minor creasing at the bottom and an insignificant tear in the lower right, neither of which in the least detract from its spectacular, strong Excellent appearance. Perfectly bright, crisp, and clean, it would be hard to imagine a finer example. This is an extraordinary nonsport card advertising rarity. Beautifully matted and framed to the total dimensions of 19.5 x 33 inches. The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.