1887-1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Set Overview

Card Specs: 1.44"x 2.6”  |  50 cards  |  Color  |  Classification: 19th Century Tobacco  |  N28

The N28 Allen & Ginter “World’s Champions” issue, released around 1887-88 by the Allen & Ginter tobacco company is one of the most artistic of all card sets, regardless of era. The set features 50 cards - ten showcasing baseball players and the remainder depicting champions from other sports, including rowing, wrestling, and boxing, as well as a few prominent figures from outside of the sporting realm.

1887-1888 N28 Allen & Ginter card examples

Baseball greats such as Cap Anson, King Kelly, John Clarkson, Charlie Comiskey, Tim Keefe, and John Ward, along with non-baseball icons like Annie Oakley, John L. Sullivan, and Buffalo Bill Cody distinguish the N28 set from many of its popular pre-war contemporaries. Its crossover appeal - spanning sports, Americana, and early lithographic art - makes Allen & Ginter cards highly desirable series for both baseball historians and 19th century collectors.

N28 Allen & Ginter subjects combined sports and Americana

N28 Allen & Ginter Card Design & Distribution

Each card, riding along with a pack of Allen & Ginter cigarettes, displays vibrant lithographic color with borders, and relevant illustrations overlaid on some cases.  The full 50-card checklist printed on the reverse - a first for a major tobacco issue.  The N28 set had only the 50 based subjects with no alternate versions, in stark contrast from the N172 Old Judge set which had more than 500 subjects and 3,500 card versions.

N28 Allen & Ginter Mike "King" Kelly front and back

The “Allen & Ginter” brand name printed along the bottom front border is a defining characteristic of the N28 issue.  Many early collectors trimmed off the branding line, likely influencing the following year’s N29 set the brand was printed on the back instead. Due to their age and delicate composition, well-preserved examples are scarce and remain highly desirable among 19th-century card collectors.

N28 Allen & Ginter Card Value

The most noteworthy subjects, like King Kelly and Cap Anson, in high-grade can reach into five-figures at auction in today's market, and between $3,000-$7,000 in mid-grade. Lesser-known players can still command more than $1,000 if well-preserved, while raw or low-grade common cards can be acquired for less than $100.

Recent REA Auction N28 Allen & Ginter Sales

N28 Allen & Ginter Cap Anson PSA EX 5 - $12,600 - Summer 2024 Auction

N28 Allen & Ginter King Kelly PSA NM 7  - $15,600 - Fall 2023 Auction

N28 Allen & Ginter Collection - $1,980 - Spring 2025 Auction

FOR MORE AUCTION RESULTS, SEARCH "N28" IN OUR AUCTION ARCHIVE.

How to Sell 1887-1888 N28 Allen & Ginter Cards

If you are considering selling a card or collection from the N28 Allen & Ginter set, whether a single baseball star or a complete 50-card run, REA is the trusted leader in 19th century trading card auctions. Reach out today to connect with a specialist and learn how our personalized consignment process offers a great opportunity for a top dollar payout.