Good morning. Intrigued by an article in the latest issue of the "Wrapper" (and feeling very good about getting the remainder of the NSB copies into the mail this week...REALLY!), I decided that I would inquire as to board members to assist with sorting out the "series orientation" with this set. I knew of the method of issuance and promo cards, and utilized this information to figure out a couple of the series back when I wrote the descriptive text for this set in the NSB. However, I obtained only one series "complete" (some may remember that a few years back that some of these came to eBay and were sold as series complete with the promo card)...so, I never could quite make my information line up with what I viewed as possible short-printed cards that kept some sets from being completed (as advertised in the "Wrapper" about 15-20 years ago...i.e. seemed like several sets were sold with 22 or 23 cards). Anyway, here is what the NSB has on this set...I'd love to complete the "series" aspect of the checklist and determine whether a "short-printed" series really exists.I figure that any board participants who own this set and/or promo cards can assist with figuring out this information, and comment on specific cards that might be preventing them from completing their sets...information, opinions anyone? As will become the case of my future NSB-related inquiries...I'd love to have collector input on pricing.
SPACE FLEET
‘53 - Skelly Gasoline
U.S.A., 24 unnumbered cards
A rare, but quite popular 24 card set released and distributed by Kansas-based Skelly gas stations in the early 50's. Cards have rounded corners and are printed in yellow, blue and red on front with red and blue on the back. Four cards depict the set's fictional space heroes with the remaining illustrating space vehicles. Each card back offers a different helpful safety tip such as “Never, never fool around with anything electrical” or “Don’t go in a boat unless there is a lifejacket for everybody in it.” This set was issued four cards at a time over a six week period, and four cards seem much more difficult to find than the others—presumably comprising one relatively rare series (unsure whether this is really true, as another near set was missing three entirely different cards). For some reason, “Bat III” and “Blue Bolt” may be toughest to find of the four cards making up this short-printed series [sp] as several “sets” of 23 cards have previously been advertised - each missing either of these particular cards. Few complete sets exist. At least five different promotional cards were issued (one each with each of the first five groups of four cards - these allow for the grouping of the checklist by series) advertising the group of the forthcoming week. These are extremely tough to find as they were presumably discarded shortly after receipt. (ACC# UO67)
CHECKLIST: [] = series designation where known; sp status
(1) Asteroid King
(2) Bat III [sp]
(3) “Biff” Benson [ser. 4]
(4) Blue Bolt [sp?]
(5) Cosmic Needle [ser. 1]
(6) Cosmic Radar Director [ser. 1]
(7) “Curley” Carson [ser. 3]
(8) Dawn Racer [ser. 4]
(9) Jane Joy [ser. 2]
(10) Meteor Dragger
(11) Moon Glow [ser. 1]
(12) Moon Jumper [ser. 4]
(13) Repair Car
(14) Rock Comet
(15) Rock Skipper [ser. 4; sp?]
(16) Sky Shark [sp?]
(17) Solar Flash [ser. 6]
(18) Solar Hot Rock [ser. 5]
(19) Solar Life Boat
(20) Space Lark
(21) Space Scout
(22) “Specs” Regan [ser. 1]
(23) Star Queen
(24) Sun Runner
Description EX/NM condition
Single card $ 25.00
Set (24 cards) $ 660.00
Single promotional card $ 75.00
1. Cards in EX condition should command no more than 0.66x the above values.
2. Cards in NM condition routinely command up to 1.5x the above values.
