1889-1893 N353 Consols Cigarettes "Portraits of Ladies of the White House" Near-Complete Set (22/25) Plus Six Variations

Sold For:

$360

Year:

1893

Auction:

2015 Fall

Lot #:

1231

Category:

Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork

Near-complete set of twenty-one cards (out of twenty-five) from the N353 "Portraits of Ladies of the White House" series plus six variations for a total of twenty-seven cards. Issued over a period of several years with Consols Cigarettes, these cards feature portraits of the First Ladies (and in some cases the niece, daughter, or sister of the President) set inside an oval frame against a tan, patterned background with identification of the subject at the bottom. The reverse features a checklist of the subjects along with an advertisement for the manufacturer underneath. All cards present as Vg-Ex to Ex when viewed from the front; however, ten cards display small flaws on the reverse, such as ink or small spots of paper loss, which would cause them to grade more modestly. The six variations all feature a white border (compared to the borderless versions comprising the near-complete set) and grade three Gd and three Vg. While many nonsport sets are dedicated to the Presidents of the United States, this rare nineteenth-century tobacco issue is one of the few series devoted exclusively to their wives and family members. Total: 27 cards.  Reserve $200. Estimate (open).