1888 N79 Duke "Histories of Poor Boys and Other Famous People" Near-Complete Set (47 of 50)

Sold For:

$1,528

Year:

1888

Auction:

2007 Spring

Lot #:

1543

Category:

Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork

Near-complete set of 47 out of 50 1888 N79 Duke "Histories of Poor Boys and Other Famous People" booklets. Missing only three booklets for completion (P.T. Barnum, Mark Twain, and Jake Kilrain). This is a very attractive near-set of these extremely rare sixteen-page booklets with colorful covers, which were issued as premiums with Duke's Cigarettes, with conditions ranging from Gd to Vg-Ex (includes a few lesser). The following seven booklets have been encapsulated by SGC (designated "Auth"; SGC does not assign numerical grades to this set): Alger, Astor, Billings, Childs, Meissonier, Stanford, and Tennyson. Each booklet is the size of an insert card (2.75 x 1.5 inches) and features a portrait image of a historical figure (such as Buffalo Bill, Thomas Edison, Edgar Allan Poe, John L. Sullivan, etc.) on the front with a biography presented on the interior pages. These are very similar in design to the N78 Duke "Histories of Generals" booklets, and are, in fact, even rarer. The back cover of each features a beautiful colorful lithograph of a scene relating to the individual's field of interest. This is an extremely attractive near-set (missing just three booklets) with outstanding eye-appeal. Duke's "Histories of Poor Boys and Other Famous People" are rarely offered as a complete or near-complete set, and are highly prized by historical collectors, miniature book collectors, and nineteenth-century nonsport tobacco-card collectors. Total 47 booklets. Reserve $400. Estimate $800/$1,200. SOLD FOR $1,527.50