Lot # 15: 1880s H804-5 "Black Player Series" Comic Baseball Trade Card SGC-Graded Complete Set (4)

Extremely attractive complete set of H804-5 “Black Player Series” comic trade cards. This set of four cards issued in the 1880s is colorfully illustrated with drawings of various baseball scenes featuring black players and a short phrase at the top. The set is of special significance as it is among the earliest of all baseball-related card sets. These cards were designed to allow merchants to overprint their own ads on the front or blank backs for use as an advertising vehicle. Two of the cards have advertising overprints on the front, and all four have advertisements on the reverse (two full printed). All four cards were printed with pastel colors. Each card has been graded by SGC and, as can easily be seen, presents much better than the assigned grade. The set consists of the following: A Point in Dispute (VG+ 45), F-O-U-L Ball (VG+ 45), Home Run (FAIR 20), and Out!-On A Fly (GOOD 30). This is a very attractive and rarely-offered complete set of these early baseball trade cards. Total: 4 cards.