Description: This card exemplifies the very definition of Ephemera (which according to Wikipedia is transitory written and printed matter, not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day.) Issued by the American Tobacco Company sometime between 1900 and 1905 as an insert premium with their brand of Jack Rose cigarettes and tobacco. The series is listed as T104 in Burdick’s American Card Catalogue, and is entitles “Stage Beauties”. However it should be mentioned that The American Card Catalogue, the World Tobacco Index and the Forbes/Mitchell Americn Tobacco Cards Price guide list this series as only being issued with the Sweet Caporal Little Cigar Cigarettes brand name. Therefore this JACK ROSE brand series is a previously UNRECORDED VERSION of this series. This series is unique to the Tobacco Card world in that it is actually a Decal Transfer. This is more than likely one of the earliest versions of a “Transfer” type of card (the great ancestor of the modern “Tattoo”style cards) Each card features a sepia image printed in reverse of the featured Stage Theatre Actress. Because this is a transfer, the card features a film like coating over the image that gives it a cloudy appearance. The back of the card gives instructions to “Dip the card in water, apply it to the article to be ornamented, press it down smooth then slide off the paper, and the picture will remain”. It also goes on to state “List of celebrated stage beauties one of which in decalcomanie is packed in each package of Jack Rose Cigarettes”. This was probably a great novelty at the time of issue, however modern collecotors today absolutely cringe in horror at the though of how many of these cards were essentially destroyed by people following those instuructions. You can imagine that not many of these cards have survived today. Add to that the fact this series was printed on thin stock paper and is extremly sensitive to moisture, and you begin to get the idea of just how rare these cards are today. Even if they did not get originally used they then had to be stored in a moisture free area for the next 100 odd years so they would not stick together if they were stored stacked on top of each other (remember storing cards in plastic only came about in the 1970’s). If ever their was an ephemeral miracle this card is it. The card measures 2 5/8 inches by 1 9/16 inches approximately. It features the actress FANNIE BLOODGOOD. The card does have a very slight curl to the card, but seeing as this is thin paper stock I imagine some time spent between the pages of some heavy books would remedy this. It has some slight edge and corner wear, and it does appear to have been printed slightly off centre at the front, but it hard to tell with this series. It is free from creases. I have scanned the front and back of the card fairly large, for you to be able to judge condition for yourself. Finding an example of the Sweet Caporal Brand Variation of this series is tough. Finding a copy of a previously un-recorded brand variation is next to impossible. Don’t miss out on this chance to purchase this impossibly rare card. I will be trying to list several EARLY TRADE & TYPE CARDS over the next few days (spread across different categories), including one or two that are unrecorded in any guide, that were put given away with Tobacco, Cigarettes , Caramel, Candy, Gum, Chocolate, Bread Coffee Tea Cereal and other products, covering such diverse subjects as Native American Indians , Baseball , Football, Boy Scouts, Ice Hockey, Golf, Presidents of the United States, NCAA and IVY League Colleges and Universities, Dog Breeds, Circus themes and many more. To view the other cards I have up on ebay please click on the “View Sellers other Items” Icon located on this page. It will take you directly to them.Due to my work schedule and distance to the post office I am only able to ship Monday Mornings. If I haven’t received payment for an item by Sunday evening, the item will have to wait until the next Monday to go out. Its unfortunate but unavoidable. If this doesn’t work for you I respectfully ask that you do not bid or buy. Thanks again. This will be mailed from the USA. For USA purchases I Can combine shipping. Please message me for details.Unfortunately Ebay’s Global Seller Program does not allow for combined shipments on international order
Price: 247.5 USD
Location: Niagara Falls, New York
End Time: 2024-11-20T12:15:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4.75 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Tobacco Cards: Cigarette Cards
