I'm hoping to stir some interest in the sharing of information of this
less-than-favorite set of the 30s.

First of all, for 24 years I picked up "lots" and tossed them aside
(I really didn't care for them, until today)

Now I have a real appreciation for them.....because I see that to get a
set that is ex/ex+ you'd need to go through 100s. I bet Ralph has a perfect
set. What I've put together is pretty nice, but far from ex/ex+.
(says something for PSA ? )
---------------------------------------------------------
..... I ask for information on the Wild West wrapper.......
---------------------------------------------------------
the wrappers seem fairly common, but are there wrapper
variations ?
---------------------------------------------------------
..... I ask for information on the borders/back combo.......
---------------------------------------------------------
It looks like the front lower part has either red, blue or white "borders".
So I ask the pros---do ALL the red and blue "borders" have puzzle backs
or does anyone have a non-puzzle backed red or blue border

The white borders are just the opposite, having NO puzzles on their backs.
So I ask the pros---do ALL the white borders have NO puzzle backs.

I hoping someone has at least one card contrary to the nrom, which would mean
an error in printing had occured.
---------------------------------------------------------
... I ask for information on known errors in the set.......
---------------------------------------------------------
Was anything ever written in The Wrapper as to error cards ?
I also ask alan to speak with Hugh and ask if he knows of any "error" cards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
.......anyone care to post 3 pics of the 3 borders" ?...........
-----------------------------------------------------------------

And lastly, is the NSB out yet ? I bet all the info I ask for is already
printed in its entirety !!!!!

Dan,

Here's the info to which I am aware...and will be found in the NSB (still waiting....)

WILD WEST SERIES

‘33 - Gum, Inc., 62 x 79 mm
U.S.A., 48 numbered cards (+ var.)



Issued in spring of 1933, this set can be found in two distinct variations: (A) forty-eight cards with “Picture Puzzle Bubble Gum” printed within a red (#1-24) or blue (#26-49) stripe on front and containing a printed puzzle back, and (B) twenty-four cards #26-49 without colored stripe on front or puzzle on back. Bonus card #25, which has ‘Series B’ characterisitcs, was redeemable for a free “Cowboy Outfit” and rarely surfaces in the marketplace (it is not considered to be part of the set and it’s value remains speculative). Interestingly, Gum Inc. responded to complaint letters regarding the scarcity of this bonus card with a reply dated from the spring of 1933 that included an individual card #25. The company also noted that it was financially impossible to include a card #25 in every box of one hundred packs. Given this correspondence, it’s safe to say scarcity issues have followed this card since its release. It is also worthy to note that Gum, Inc. never produced another redemption type of card - perhaps complaints lead to a fear of product backlash. It is assumed that this redemption card is not found with the ‘Series A’ puzzle back, although this remains unproven. Cards are printed on thick card stock that is very prone to age toning. (ACC# R172)


Description EX condition
Single card (Series A #1-24) $ 10.00
Single card (Series A #26-49) $ 7.00
Single card (Series B #26-49) $ 12.00
#1 - Davy Crockett Defending $ 30.00
#14 - Custer’s Last Stand $ 25.00
#49 - Fighting off Indians (Series A) $ 14.00
#49 - Fighting off Indians (Series B) $ 26.00

Set (Series A; 48 cards) $ 500.00
Set (Series B; 24 cards) $ 325.00

#25 - Cowboy Outfit Free (Bonus card) speculative

1. Cards in EX/NM and NM condition may command up to 1.5 & 2.5x the above values, respectively.

OK, I know of 4 WILD WEST WRAPPERS..

Variations 1 and 2 both read 'SERIES' just below the word WEST... one is a PAPER wrapper and the other is a WAX wrapper

In Variation 3 the word SERIES is now gone and is replaced by the words BUBBLE GUM just below the word WEST.

In Variation 4 the words BUBBLE GUM remain....but....between WEST and BUBBLE GUM the words TRADE MARK is squeezed in....AND...just to the left and slightly below the 'B' in BUBBLE GUM is a DIAMOND SHAPE with the letter 'S' inside..

OK, why didn't I just scan the 4 wrappers for all to see...my wife isn't home and I am too useless to work the scanner !!!

Marty

Thanks Chris....very informative, as I knew you'd be.

So, I ask even more forcefully...might anyone have a back NOT
as described in The NBS ?

I'll be going through 300+ cards tomorrow, hoping to find at least one
that is different.

Also...the wrapper....thanks for that info, Marty

================
By the way, I saw ONE card that had a hand-stamped "1931".
I have to wonder if this set's first cards were created late '31,
TWO years before Goudey's first nonsports card set.

Hello all, new to the board, hope I'm not intruding. Wondering if anyone has any info about the O-Pee-Chee version of this set, which is quite different front and back. I only have two, and have no idea how many Canadian cards were in this set. Any OPC experts out there? Thanks, Grant

There is an OPC expert out there. But while you wait for him to get to your post, check out some older threads a few pages back - there is a GREAT one on OPC, the Company.

Information found in the NSB....

WILD WEST BUBBLE GUM
‘30s - O-Pee-Chee Co., Ltd., 64 x 79 mm
Canada, 48 numbered cards

Either 48 or 49 cards were issued (49 are advertised on the back of all cards, but #25, which would correspond to the “bonus card” in the U.S. set, has not been seen). Unlike the U.S. counterpart (which contains multiple different appearing series), all cards have similar layout without variation (to “Series B” of the Gum, inc. set, but each states “Wild West Bubble Gum” - - hence the set title). Previously this set was reported as having half of the card artwork redrawn, but this is erroneous. Black-inked text found on card backs is printed on thick gray card stock and contains descriptive text in both English and French.
(ACC# V306)

This set shouldn't be confused with the following....

FAR WEST GUM
‘50s - anonymous, 62 x 77 mm
Canada, ? numbered cards

Previously reported as being an O-Pee-Chee issue, this anonymous set bears close resemblance to “Wild West Bubble Gum”, and in all likelihood was produced by the same manufacturer. Descriptive text found on back is printed in both English and French. The set likely totals forty-eight or fifty cards. (ACC# V307)


FAR WEST GUM
‘50s - anonymous, 62 x 78 mm
U.K., 30K numbered cards

Set total is unknown, but likely corresonds to the preceding set of the same title. Descriptive text found on back is printed in both English and French, but the origin is identified as England.

Very helpful Chris, thanks very much.

Let's try to put up scans of the four wrapper variations that Marty identified for Wild West Picture Puzzle Bubblegum.

---------------

Copied here for your ready reference:

"Variations 1 and 2 both read 'SERIES' just below the word WEST... one is a PAPER wrapper and the other is a WAX wrapper

"In Variation 3 the word SERIES is now gone and is replaced by the words BUBBLE GUM just below the word WEST.

"In Variation 4 the words BUBBLE GUM remain....but....between WEST and BUBBLE GUM the words TRADE MARK is squeezed in....AND...just to the left and slightly below the 'B' in BUBBLE GUM is a DIAMOND SHAPE with the letter 'S' inside."

----------------

Here is a scan of Var 1: Translucent wax paper plus "Series" under the words WILD WEST

[IMG][/IMG]

Here is a scan of Var 2: Plain white paper wrapper plus "Series" under the words WILD WEST

[IMG][/IMG]


So, anybody want to pitch in with Var 3 and Var 4 ("Bubblegum" instead of "Series", with/without trademark icon)?

Here are the two "Bubble Gum" variations.

-Jack

Okay, that completes the images for all wrapper variations. A tip of the hat to Jack!

Question: Anyone have any idea as to relative scarcity of the four wrapper variations??? -- Which are the most common, which are the most difficult? Any ideas on dates of issue? Seems we ought to be positioned to finish off the story on these.

Here's one educated guess: the wrapper with the appearance of a trademark surely must be the last version to be issued (can't really think of any good reason for someone to REMOVE a trademark; usually it gets added, for protection). Therefore, since the trademark was added to a 'Bubblegum' version, then those must have been wrappers #3 ("Bubblegum") and #4 ("Bubblegum" + TM) to appear. That means the original and second versions to appear, or simulaneously appearing, would be the wrappers that say "Series" on plain paper or waxed paper.

This exactly follows the naming pattern (Vars 1, 2, 3, 4) that Marty Krim used, when he started all this.

(By the way, Marty, thanks so much. I wasn't even aware of variations until I read his post, and never noticed this being mentioned in price guides or The Wrapper, but may have missed it. Big kudos to Marty K for revealing this info!)

Great stuff, guys, thanks for posting these