One of the parts of my collection that has given me endless pleasure and of which I am quite proud is my complete run of Wrappers from #1 to the current issue. There are an amazing number of nuggets of information over those three decades worth of issues. Knowing that Les has been diligently working on his labor of love since I was an undergrad gives me a great deal of comfort somehow.

For those of you who are relatively new to the hobby, I would encourage you to seek out some of those vintage issues (which show up on eBay periodically). I've always found those early articles by Bob Nolan (the man in the leather {now known to be cheap vinyl} jacket) to be both well written and fascinating. I'm curious how many others out there have the complete run? Even though it's not technically a card set, I would consider completing that "set" must rank up there with some of the toughest.

An accomplishment Chuck. I've heard the low numbers were short printed

Jim, since Les reads the board, maybe he will provide some stats on his print run through the years. I would like to add that as much as I enjoy reading through those early issues, I think the content of the Wrapper is still going strong. Interesting articles and ads continue in every issue.

I started with #30 and managed to find a few others over the years; still need #1-7 9-11 14 17 23 25-29

To those thinking about buying back issues-there is a tremendous wealth of information in those issues on the background details of innumerable sets.

Les published an issue that listed all the back issues and the stories on sets contained therein; maybe Les can give the issue number. I want to say issue 200-but I am probably wrong and my old issues are in storage.

Gary,you ARE correct,it is issue #200. I use it time to time when researching sets, comes in very handy!

I have been collecting since the early 1970's. I bought the very first Sport Americana guide off the newstand and there was the Wrapper ad. Dummy me! I never subscribed to it until sometime around issue #80. The biggest non-sport regret of my life was not subscribing when I first saw that ad.

Oh well, I still have managed to get a near set and only need:
1, 2, 3, 9

(Any help out there?)

Les did you stockpile away a stack of mint copies of those early issues so you could live high on the hog in your retirement years by having them graded and sold in Mastro Auctions for millions?

I'm in the same boat. I saw the ad in the Benjamin guide but I wasted a LOT of money putting off subscribing as the prices went up in the 1990s when I could bought what I needed in older sets for next to nothing. But nooooo, I was too cheap to "waste" the $21.25 it costs back then. (It's barely gone up much in price since then, but the costs of the cards has skyrocketed!) The pain, the PAIN!

It was issue #106 before I wised up. I've since collected all the back issues except the first ten.

I've tried to maintain a complete index on line of all the previous articles, going all the way back to the first issue. You can view it at:

http://www.radiohorrorhosts.com/TheWrapper2.html

If you see an article you want to read, you can order from Les for few bucks in photocopy fees.

The Index is broken up into three files.
Alphabetical (by set title) from issue 1-99
Alphabetical (by set title) of issues 100-200
Chronilogical (by set title) from issues 100 to present.

I could use some help organizing an alphabetical index from issues 200 and up if anyone wants to chip in. You can get all the info you need from the Chronilogical index, and just copy and paste it in alphabetical order. Any help is appreciated. You know what the Chinese say: Many hands make fast work!

Very time consuming, for it would do the job..

I have three sections, issue numbers and dates, followed by collector
articles, then sets.
-----------------------
Kurt, I'm don't have that much time, but could do 10 issues each day.
Let me know if you want to make "minor" changes to the "format".
Actually, let's wait and see what others come up with.
-----------------------



Issue #233 (Feb 15 - April 1, 2008)
Issue #232 (Jan 1 - Feb 15, 2008)
Issue #231 (Nov 15 - Jan 1, 2008)
Issue #230 (Oct 1 - Nov 15, 2007)
Issue #229 (Aug 15 - Oct 1, 2007)


...................COLLECTORS................................

232..Bill Cain.....(Collector Profile) by Cian/ Davis pg 25-28
231..David Grimes.....David Grimes (Remembered) by Les Davis pg 6-7
233..Hugh Jones.....Death of a Salesmen (Hugh Jones, age 75, remembered) by various pg 4-8
231..Alan Miley..... (Collector Profile) by Miley pg 12-15

......................SETS.....................................
231..All American Space Fleet (Skelly) by Reinhold Hohnsbein pg 8-10
230..Antique Autos.....1953 Antique Autos (Bowman) by Joel Bevan pg24-28
233..AVP vs The Golden Compass (review of Aliens vs Predator & The Golden Compass movie cards) by Kuersteiner pg 10-11
230..Dinosaurs.....Nu-Card (2nd and Final part on Dinosaurs, Wanted, & Horror Monsters) by Marks pg 12-16
232..Firefighters (Bowman) by Joel Bevan pg 20-23
233..Flippers Magic Fish (Topps 1966) by Marc Simon pg 28-30
229..Floy Toy (the Nu-card series) by Marks pg 8-14
229..Food Glorious Food (issues) by Roger McCalmont pg 24-25
229..Guernsey's.....What every happened to the Artwork from Guernsey's 1997 card Auction? by Marc Simon pg 26-27
232..JRS....Looking Back At Jets-Rockets-Spacemen! (Bowman) by Kuersteiner pg 8-9
233..JRS....Rockets & Spacemen (The Extension set discussed, cards 145-180 of JRS) by Joel Bevan pg 12-15
232..Laugh-In (Topps) by Robert Rightmire pg 10-14
229..Love Links (Donruss) by Donald Onodi pg 15-16
229..Monster Cards.....Order of the Oddball Monster Cards (more offbeat monster cards) by Kuersteiner pg 4-6
233..Pirates (Novel Package Company) Dan Hollanbeck pg 24-26
230..Uranus Strikes.....Collecting Cards From Uranus (Uranus Strikes Cards) by Kuersteiner pg 5-7
233..Vote Stickers (Donruss)(an Oddball series in a historic year) by Marc Simon pg 10-23

Still looking for # 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 to complete my set!

(B/S/T:  By the way, am also sitting on a very large group of duplicates, something like 100 different back issues, mostly in very clean condition, if any card collectors are interested.  Details on request. Includes some very low numbers.  Would prefer to just sell the entire lot, rather than fill back issue numbers, so offers welcome.)

Gives great flexibility..

If an article refers to 3 sets....
the line is copied so the article appears under each set's title
====================================================================
HERE ARE TEN ISSUES
====================================================================


Issue #233 (Feb 15 - April 1, 2008)
Issue #232 (Jan 1 - Feb 15, 2008)
Issue #231 (Nov 15 - Jan 1, 2008)
Issue #230 (Oct 1 - Nov 15, 2007)
Issue #229 (Aug 15 - Oct 1, 2007)
Issue #228 (July 1 - Aug 15, 2007)
Issue #227 (May 15 - July 1, 2007)
Issue #226 (April 1 to May 15, 2007)
Issue #225 (Feb 15 to April 1, 2007)
Issue #224 (Jan 1st to Feb 15, 2007)


...................SPECIAL ARTICLES......................................

228..Falls Church Deli (Remembering the corner card store) by Spencer Hyndman pg 26-27
228..How & Why to Catalog Your Collection by Kuersteiner pg 6-7
227..My Favorite Find (Spook Stories Stickers) by Kuersteiner pg 6-8
224..To Grade, or Not to Grade? (The pros and especially cons of slabbing) by Todd Riley pg 5

...................COLLECTORS................................

228..Jefferson Burdick.....The Jefferson Burdic Files ("Changing of the Guard") by Chris Benjamin pg 19-21
232..Bill Cain.....(Collector Profile) by Cian/ Davis pg 25-28
231..David Grimes.....David Grimes (Remembered) by Les Davis pg 6-7
233..Hugh Jones.....Death of a Salesmen (Hugh Jones, age 75, remembered) by various pg 4-8
231..Alan Miley..... (Collector Profile) by Miley pg 12-15

......................SETS.....................................

231..All American Space Fleet (Skelly) by Reinhold Hohnsbein pg 8-10
225..Angry Stickers (Topps) (Sequel to Quirks & Origin article issue #221) by Marc Simon pg 20-22
226..American Beauties Variation (Gum, Inc. Good Girl cards) by Marks pg 8-11
230..Antique Autos.....1953 Antique Autos (Bowman) by Joel Bevan pg24-28
233..AVP vs The Golden Compass (review of Aliens vs Predator & The Golden Compass movie cards) by Kuersteiner pg 10-11
227..Batman, pt 1. (4 sets from the 1960s) by Joel Bevan pg 10-13
228..Batman, pt 2. (4 sets from the 1960s) by Joel Bevan pg 8-11
225..Batman Returns...3 Unlikely Musketeers (Dukes of Hazzard, Garbage Pail Kids, & Batman Returns boxes) by Marks pg 10-15
224..Davy Crockett.....King of the Wild Frontier (Interview with Paul DeVito on Davy Crockett cards) by Bill Bengen pg 12-14
230..Dinosaurs.....Nu-Card (2nd and Final part on Dinosaurs, Wanted, & Horror Monsters) by Marks pg 12-16
225..Dukes of Hazzard...3 Unlikely Musketeers (Dukes of Hazzard, Garbage Pail Kids, & Batman Returns boxes) by Marks pg 10-15
232..Firefighters (Bowman) by Joel Bevan pg 20-23
233..Flippers Magic Fish (Topps 1966) by Marc Simon pg 28-30
229..Floy Toy (the Nu-card series) by Marks pg 8-14
228..Food -- Cards and "Thrilling Moments in the Lives of Famous Americans" ("F" cards) by Davis pg 22-25
229..Food -- Glorious Food (issues) by Roger McCalmont pg 24-25
224..Gilligan.... & Other Thoughts (also Hogan's Heroes thoughts) by Jim Rehder pg 6-7
225..GPK.....3 Unlikely Musketeers (Dukes of Hazzard, Garbage Pail Kids, & Batman Returns boxes) by Marks pg 10-15
225..Government Agents vs. Public Enemies (R61 cards) by Joel Bevan pg 6-8
229..Guernsey's.....What every happened to the Artwork from Guernsey's 1997 card Auction? by Marc Simon pg 26-27
224..Hogans Heroes.....Gilligan & Other Thoughts (also Hogan's Heroes thoughts) by Jim Rehder pg 6-7
225..Horror Movie Poster Cards (by Breygent Marketing) by Kuersteiner pg 18-19
228..Kerr's Butter Scotch (R-9, 1940) by Dick Dahlquist pg 5
224..Heroes of History, Men of History (T68 Tobacco cards) by Frank Evanov pg 18-21
232..JRS....Looking Back At Jets-Rockets-Spacemen! (Bowman) by Kuersteiner pg 8-9
233..JRS....Rockets & Spacemen (The Extension set discussed, cards 145-180 of JRS) by Joel Bevan pg 12-15
232..Laugh-In (Topps) by Robert Rightmire pg 10-14
229..Love Links (Donruss) by Donald Onodi pg 15-16
224..MAD.....imply MAD about MAD (Various Mad magazine sets) by Dave Cullen pg 10-11
224..Mad Caps ....(Irish Reissue of Nutty Initials) by Peter Boulay pg 23
224..Men of History (T68 Tobacco cards) by Frank Evanov pg 18-21
224..Monster sets ....(Godzilla by Comic Images, Frankenstein by Artbox, and Monster Box, vol. 2) by Kuersteiner pg 8-9
229..Monster Cards.....Order of the Oddball Monster Cards (more offbeat monster cards) by Kuersteiner pg 4-6
226..Monster Cards....What's Looking Back At You? (Monsterfaces cards) by Mike Fitzpatrick pg 6-7
227..Mother's Cookies.....The Mother's Cookies Story by Bill Christensen pg 18-22
226..New Insults Back-Slapper Stickers (Fleer) by Marc Simon pg 18-21
233..Pirates (Novel Package Company) Dan Hollanbeck pg 24-26
225..Sci-Fi & Horror Movie Poster Cards (by Breygent Marketing) by Kuersteiner pg 18-19
228..Space Patrol (complete set sold for $4,437.00) by Hakes.com pg 4
228..Super Heroes -Topps (Comic Book Heroes) by David Duddy pg 12-15
228..Thrilling Moments in the Lives of Famous Americans ("F" cards) by Davis pg 22-2
230..Uranus Strikes.....Collecting Cards From Uranus (Uranus Strikes Cards) by Kuersteiner pg 5-7
233..Vote Stickers (Donruss)(an Oddball series in a historic year) by Marc Simon pg 10-23
226..Wacky....The Wacky Phenomenon (Wacky packages) by Dave Cullen pg 12-15
226..Who-Z-At-Star cards by Scott Thomas pg 22-25
227..Wings.....1952 Topps Wings Cards (A theory on 3rd & 4th series printing) by Peter D'Luhosch pg 14-16

Here's the scoop: There will be an alphabetical card set article index(no potpourri, collector profiles, etc.) in the upcoming 30th anniversary issue of Oct. 1(Wrapper #238). I really have too many of the recent issues--my 48-cent per issue offer on the inside back cover--and would love some orders for those 47 different for $23(48 contiguous states only!). The early ones? #101 to present are not rare, but even pre-#150 are not showing up all that much. Pay $5-$10 each for #'s 51-99(disappearing fast). Below #50? Grab it when you see it(or them). For example, I have only one copy of #28. Under #10 are very difficult and pay up to $20 each if you see them. #14 is one of my favorites(2nd year anniversary & a fat issue) with 500 original copies. #7 started with 300 copies. #1(only 2 pages) had only 100 copies, but half were given away free or thrown back in my face at a Chicago baseball card show(ha). A complete set of Wrappers would stand over three feet high....

Les: You may remember that I got you to confirm the authenticity of the last few single digit issues when I picked them up from one of your original subscribers (from Hawaii). I was concerned that since they were so thin that they might be photocopied. I think you're a little low on your values for issues below #10...I've seen them go for way over $100 and I'm sure a #1 would far exceed that.

Chuck

P.S. I should add that my run of Wrappers is not technically complete as I don't have that early Mars Attacks special edition. As a mainly 30's collector, I never looked too hard for it but would welcome one if anyone has it available.

I picked up about 10 Wrappers in the 25-50 range off ebay for $6-$8 each. The same seller had some in the 10-25 range (maybe even a couple single digit issues) that went for $9-$15 or so each. Unfortunately, I didn't win any of those......

Hey Dan,

A BIG thanks for the offer to help organize the Alphabetical Index listing of #200 & up. As Les mentioned, he's going to publish his shortened index version in issue #238. What he did NOT mention is that he DIDN'T KEEP AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF IT! (Haw-haw! Those old typewriter habits die hard!) So that's why it needs to be repeated (plus, to include ALL the articles)

Your format is close to perfect, but the issue number is the last bit of info that should show up in each discription (at the very end). Putting it up front makes it harder to spot the subject title and adds to overall confusion. And I usally mix sets and everything else together to keep it uniform with the earlier alphabetical index (instead of listing them seperately as collectors or whatever else).

You can see the earlier alphabetical index at http://www.radiohorrorhosts.com/backishindex.html

In fact, it would probably be best to download that index and just ad to it, so people looking for articles on various topics don't have to consult too many different index files. (They probably don't care how old the article is, they just want information on their topic. If you do add to the existing index, keep in mind it is actually current up to issue #201.) But that's up to you, I'm just glad to get the help! Thanks again!

I also notice I haven't been adding the page numbers in the older alphabetical index, but you're right to do so because people should know how many pages each article is. I suppose that can be added next to last in brackets to seperate it from the issue number, i.e., (pgs 6-7) #230

Kurt,
Linux has some sorting utilites that I used on the lists (it does put numbers at the top, etc.)

I did a sample here and combined all issues:

http://www.non-sport.com/wrapperidx.html

Will this work for you?

Hey Todd,
That is a BIG help. It does need some cleaning up (titles with "The" at the beginnding all wind up in the "T" section instead of the actual catagory with their proper subject, and, like yo said, titles with numbers in them wind up in odd places) but it's a good head start!

I especially like how you combined ALL issues. If this program is easy to run, perhaps we can use an updated alpha-index and combine it with the most recent contents every ten issues of so, so it stays current (and we don't have to resort it each time.) Whadyathink?

Super work, Todd! Although viewers will have to look closely at the "The's" to find the real title. I have no problem with anyone posting the indexes, but please don't post the articles themselves...still a small source of income for me as I photocopy them for a fee. And that Mars Attacks Special issue?(300 copies to begin with?) That is the most sought after Wrapper issue...with #1 a distant second.

Yeah, I'm gonna copy and paste that list and resort it to clean up the "The" problem and the titles beginning with numbers. To combine both lists and sort them like this is a great head start! Thanx Todd!

OK, I changed all the "The ...." to "...., The" and resorted.

See if that looks better. That way we can still use the sorting filter program.

(same link)

http://www.non-sport.com/wrapperidx.html

People might not know this but most browers support a find feature (usually accessed with the shortcut CTRL-F) which allows you to search the content of the webpage for a keyword. You can bring up the wrapper index page, hit CTRL-F (which gives you a box to type into), type in "mars attacks" (case is usually not important), then hit the "Next" (or "Previous") button and it positions the cursor on the found keyword. Keep hitting next and it searches on through the document.

Hello to All ,

The Wrapper seems an ideal source of knowlege & info concerning non-sports issues .

I was wondering if it's available to overseas customers and at what cost .

All the best with your on going projects .

----
Mark

Kurt,
There is a trick I have done before with HTML tables that allows you to click on the heading of the table and the page will resort dynamically in the browser. I will try to do this with the list I created latter tonight (I'm supposed to be working right now). The only flaw I have seen with it is that it slows down the bigger the list is. But we can give it try.

This will allow you to sort by title, issue#, and even author just by clicking the column heading.

Hi,

I have a complete set as well. Since my collecting interest is limited to the 1950's only, over time I have copied material from the Wrapper on series from that decade and keep the articles sorted by series in a group of looseleaf volumes for my personal use. Makes a great reference library.

However, I think it would be of great benefit to the hobby if the entire contents of the Wrapper's 230+ issues could be digitized and made available on the internet, (for a fee of course). It would be great to be able to search via keyword to locate material.

Of course, that is up to Les.

Best in collecting,

Bill Bengen

By all means, The Wrapper goes overseas...from Yoichi Ito in Japan to Nigel Brown in Australia to M.C. Smith in Essex, England. $37 per year sent First Class mail...and Kurt accepts Paypal for The Wrapper at monsterwax@aol.com.

Hello to All ,

Hi Les ,

That's good news . I'll rustle up some dollars and get PayPal working to our advantage in the very near future .

Tidy .

----
Mark

Thanks again Todd. I just moved most the "The"s at the end manually (that's how I spent my afternoon-- sure wish I knew the computer could have done it in seconds!) Anyway, I cleaned up the list and reposted it here:

http://www.radiohorrorhosts.com/backishmaster.html

It can still use MORE cleaning up (like using the titles of the sets insted of the "R-101" codes, etc. But this is much cleaner I think. Let me know if they get resorted again and I'll reload them.

This is a version with clickable headings. They should sort by that column. (Let me know if you have a browser that won't sort them - it takes a few seconds to resort so be patient)

http://www.non-sport.com/wrapperidx2.html

Hey Les, Remember this???!!!

No Wrapper collection is complete without it!!!

Do you still have all the unsold copies, or is this truly a great rarity???

OOPS! Lost Pic, lets try again.

Hey Les, Remember this???!!!

No Wrapper collection is complete without it!!!

Do you still have all the unsold copies, or is this truly a great rarity???

Nice job on the index. I was almost shocked to see that you included the most complicated article I ever did for the Wrapper, issue 209. It was 8 pages ( Les Davis had heart failure) and combined War Gum, Uncle Sam and Uncle Sam's Home defense. It is still required reading in schools out here in california.

Ha Ha, Chuck; you really know how to hurt a guy. In the 80's, Trivial Pursuit was all the rage. I think I printed about 300 copies of that little booklet and purchased a big box of 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" Kraft envelopes to send them out in. And I still have 40 of those envelopes 25 years later. I think I sold 7 booklets...and now can find only one. Rare? Yes! Valuable?...he he he.

preview of coming attractions................

In agreement with Les Davis, Vin Minner has accepted my offer to interview him about his thoughts on non sport card collecting and also to give insights into a special set, Tarzan and the Crystal Vault of Isis. The article should pretty much write itself and be ready for a soon upcoming Wrapper issue.

I hope that this proposed feature is the kind of material that readers find worthy.
JPB

Looking through the list of Wrapper articles I was floored by the breadth and depth of the information contained therein over the years.
I once brought up the idea to Les that he publish a book with the articles.
He laughed.
Well, Les, the index is already done (except for the pagination).
What do you all think?
Would there be enough support to justify the effort?
I assume Les has the rights to all the articles published.
I would think that if there is enough support to publish a new card catalogue, there should easily be enough support to carry this.
I'd love to have all the Wrapper back issues, but frankly, I'd much rather have one book with all the articles.

What say you all?

Mike, that's an interesting idea but I think you'd have to pick and choose the articles. The whole run is (as Les noted) over three feet high and even though the articles make up less than half the pages, you'd still have a pretty thick book unless you were selective.

Chuck

I think the articles are often "puffed" in terms of space. SOmetimes large type,
sometimes big gaps around pictures. Images often take up a lot of the page space.
These images could be whittled down in size or edited to only include the best or most pertinent examples.
The articles, even with images and "puffing" usually come out to around a dozen pages per issue.
The articles themselves could be selected by era.
Say Les tries out a 30s/40s first and see how that sells.

I don't think space would be a major consideration if handled properly.

What about the idea of putting it all on a CD in pdf format? If I could get my hands on a full set, I would do it just for my own kicks.

It would be a wonderful resource to have and access. It could have a password for access, to protect from excess coping. I think that would be a great thing to have.
PH Damon, the younger

PS-- to CEMillburn, next time I see you I've got to have a gander at the Wrapper's Trivia Book

Hello to All ,

Some great ideas here , PDF or a book , either way it sounds good .

Keep bouncing the ball around guys i'm sure something will come of it .

----
Mark

Wow, that index Todd did is really something! I'll continue to clean up the basic "raw" material so it will sort even easier. Good work Todd!

Todd, that is amazing. Kurt's message prompted me to take a look and this is a great thing for the hobby. I love having the ability to search by topic, author or issue number. By the way, if you need info for the issues currently missing let me know.

Scanning by author made me realize that it's going on four years since I did an article for Les so I need to get busy on something. And Mr. Ralph Perry, it's been going on 8 years since you graced us with your last article...I'll do one if you will.

Chuck

It would be nice if all of the articles from the Wrapper magazine were on one CD or DVD. It doesn't even have to be searcable, just static PDF documents. They do it for technical journals, right Chuck ? Why not do it for this ?