Early Caramel Cards: E93, E94, E95, E96, E98 and E105

E93: 1910 Standard Caramel

Standard Caramel’s E93 uses color-tinted player photographs against solid backgrounds and a checklist in brown ink on the back. PSA catalogs 30 subjects. Action poses are part of the appeal, but a familiar pose can occur in another manufacturer’s issue.

When comparing cards, give the reverse as much attention as the image. A front that resembles a known E93 example should still be checked against the back text and card dimensions. Keep the player name and advertising identity together in the inventory.

E94: 1911 George Close Candy

E94 comes from the George Close Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts. PSA describes 30 unnumbered subjects with several solid background colors and multiple advertising-back designs. One back variation includes a checklist.

This creates several possible collecting goals: one of each subject, a selection of background colors or a study of back advertisements. Decide which one you are building before calling another example a duplicate. Record the visible color descriptively without assuming that lighting differences indicate a recognized variety.

E95: 1909 Philadelphia Caramel

E95 is the earlier Philadelphia Caramel issue, with a 25-subject checklist and color illustrations within white borders. The player’s surname, city and league appear at the bottom. A checklist occupies the reverse, allowing a collector to compare the card with its own issue’s advertised roster.

Read those captions rather than relying on a modern player name in the listing. Preserve historic spellings in a separate field so a misspelling can be researched without losing the standard name used to organize a collection.

E96: the 1910 Philadelphia Caramel follow-up

E96 adds 30 subjects to Philadelphia Caramel’s earlier production. Its red-printed checklist refers to the previous 25-card series. That reverse provides a direct way to distinguish the follow-up from E95 even when the family resemblance is strong.

A combined Philadelphia Caramel collection can be rewarding, but keep 1909 and 1910 columns separate. A seller’s claim of a combined group should be checked card by card. The older and newer checklist totals explain the scope; they do not certify the contents of a particular lot.

E98: the anonymous Set of 30

PSA catalogs E98 as the 1910 Set of 30 and notes that its manufacturer is unidentified. Colorized portraits, a brown-ink checklist and several background-color treatments characterize the issue. The discovery of the well-known Black Swamp group changed the hobby’s experience of high-grade examples.

A pedigree is a separate attribute from the set designation and grade. If a listing names a find or collection, retain the specific documentation supporting that claim. Avoid converting a general story about the discovery into an assumption about every sharply preserved E98 card.

E105: Smith’s Mello-Mint

E105 is associated with Smith’s Mello-Mint and its Texas gum advertising. PSA notes artwork and checklist connections with E101, but describes E105 as slightly smaller and printed on very thin stock. Some examples were folded to fit their packaging.

The physical paper and advertising reverse are consequently important. A crease does not identify the issue by itself, and a familiar front does not make two catalog codes interchangeable. Ask for a clear reverse image and use the complete E105 attribution in purchase records.

A comparison method that works across the family

Create a reference sheet with one verified front and back for each issue. Compare the wording, border treatment and caption placement before considering condition. This simple exercise makes it easier to spot a listing whose title has inherited the wrong code.

Then compare like with like: same subject, recognized variation and condition category. A sale of a different advertising back or an altered card is not a clean comparison. For display, choose the image you enjoy; for documentation, keep the complete card and both sides so identification remains possible years later.

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