1948 & 1949 Leaf Football

1948 Leaf: 98 cards across two series

Leaf’s 98-card football issue combines vivid portraits with a checklist of college and professional names. The irregular appearance of surviving copies makes registration, ink coverage and centering separate buying considerations. A strong grade does not guarantee that the printed face is especially attractive.

1949 Leaf: a 49-card issue

The 1949 set comprises 49 cards in approximately the same 2-3/8 by 2-7/8-inch format. Do not use the baseball shorthand “1948–49 Leaf” to erase the distinction between football issues. Identify the card against the correct football checklist and reverse.

What to inspect in the printing

Look for doubled or offset colors around the face, letters and borders. A print defect made during production is different from later abrasion, although both can matter to appearance. Ask for photographs outside harsh reflections; bright colors can hide a surface wrinkle when lit straight on.

A practical Leaf collection

Build separate year lists with player, card number, grading service and notes on visual quality. Compare like-year copies before deciding whether a grade premium improves the appearance enough for your collection. For a paired display, choose the same player where the checklists overlap, while keeping each card’s issue identity explicit.

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