Lot # 3210: 1938 R69 Gum, Inc. "Horrors of War" Complete Set (288)

A very attractive and mostly mid-grade complete set of “Horrors of War.” The 288 cards include the 48 rare high-number cards (#241-288). Condition composite: The low-number series cards (#1-240) grade as follows: 17% Ex to Ex-Mt (mostly Ex), 71% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 12% lesser (including a few that measure a bit small). The high-number series cards (#241-288) grade as follows: 31% Ex to Ex-Mt (mostly Ex), 60% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 9% lesser. We have selected three cards for grading and encapsulation by SGC. Keys: #1 "Marco Polo Bridge Is Scene of First Fighting" (small pencil marks on reverse, otherwise Vg), 240 "The Frightful Cost of War" (VG 3), 277 "Hitler's Border Tour Raises War Scare" (Pr), 283 "Hitler Threatens Force to Free Sudetens" (EX 5), and 286 "Chamberlain Meets Hitler in Peace Effort" (EX 5). Gum, Inc.’s “Horrors of War” is perhaps the single most famous nonsport card set ever issued. The sensational graphics and the politically charged descriptions on their reverses also made this series perhaps the most controversial set ever issued. Looking over these cards and realizing that the scenes depicted were not ancient history but then-current world events unfolding at the time, we find it almost inconceivable that these cards were actually issued to youngsters with bubble gum. Death, destruction, and bloodshed characterize the artwork of the set. Youngsters went wild. Parents went wilder. “Horrors of War” was originally planned to be 240 cards and was even sold in a 240-card set form. Later, the additional 48 high-number cards (#241-288) were added to the set. The high-number series cards are particularly rare. This is an attractive complete set (#1-288) of this classic and extremely popular issue. Total: 288 cards.