is this the same topps company we are all familiar with?

if so was this their first production of sports cards?

Same Topps we know and love and yes first baseball cards.

Eric, as Dan said this is the same Topps company that we all love today. If you have never seen one of the cards in person they are VERY small, and not to everyones liking. Here are a few scans blown up to about 4X actual size.



-Rhett

Thanks guys for the quick response. This board truly is a great place to learn and talk with others.

I have seen them in person and was intrigued by it being the first topps issue, liked the small size of the set, and there are some great names in it!

I also was intrigued by the fact that it was Topps first sports card issue, but mostly I got this one because I was so struck with the image. The contrast and image quality on this example are better than many I've seen. Obviously this is larger than life-size. It's a neat little card:

You can spit on them STILL and put them in the sun and they will continue to sharpen. Not that I've been spitting on any lately. At least since summer...........

The whole issue includes many non-sport celebrities-- actors, etc.

It's interesting that many of the standard vintage baseball 'sets' are really just subsets-- Allen & Ginter, Newsboy Cabinets and Exhibits for examples.

I've written more than you probably want to know here:

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/2008/10/1949-magical-year.html

And there have been some threads on the Post War board as well (use search as there are a few different ones)

Good stuff Dave.  I bookmarked your Blog! 

Marty

Dave,

Thanks for the link! Thats good stuff!

Eric

It was merely a shameless plug to pump my readership up into double digit range!

Seriously, glad you enjoyed it folks.