1894 Mayo & 1935 National Chicle Football

1894 Mayo: N302 and the college game

Mayo’s Cut Plug is cataloged N302 and comprises 35 subjects associated with Harvard, Yale and Princeton. Sepia portraits sit within black borders; the backs are plain black. The small format and dark printing make edge loss conspicuous. A modern reprint with a similar portrait is not an original tobacco card.

The anonymous Mayo card

The famous unnamed subject is identified as John Dunlop. Treat the identification as part of the set’s history, not as a reason to accept a vague listing. For any Mayo purchase, request the reverse, exact measurements and clear views of the printed surface; a slab label supplements this examination.

1935 National Chicle: the complete issue

The completed Chicle checklist has 36 cards. Its first 24 cards were followed by the higher-number group, so an attractive 24-card collection is still incomplete. Bronko Nagurski and Knute Rockne are familiar landmarks, but a set project needs a plan for the less famous high numbers as well.

Compare like objects

A numerical grade, an Authentic designation and an altered-card designation describe different outcomes. Compare the same player and issue with the same grading description. For dark Mayo borders, examine possible color addition; on Chicle, inspect centering, creases and print quality separately. Do not clean or recolor either issue.

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