Fall 2019 - Item detail
1888 Allen & Ginter "American Indian Chiefs" Tobacco Banner in Original Frame - Newly Discovered!
- Sold For:
- $13,200
- Year:
- 1888
- Auction:
- 2019 Fall
- Lot #:
- 2838
- Category:
- Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork
Extraordinary, newly discovered full-color advertising poster for the 1888 Allen & Ginter N2 "American Indian Chiefs" tobacco-card set, complete in its original frame. While the poster itself is rare, we have never seen another example housed in its original frame, making this one of the most exciting nonsports finds in recent memory. The gilt-painted wood frame, which is ornately decorated with floral embellishments along the entire perimeter, is lettered "Allen & Ginter" in black along the top, and "Richmond, VA." along the bottom. The colorful banner features a large image of an Indian hunting a buffalo surrounded by images of all fifty cards offered in the set. As noted on the banner, all of the images on the cards are "from the Collection in the Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C." The banner also promotes Allen & Ginter's brand of Richmond Straight Cut No. 1, Virginia Brights, and Pet Cigarettes. Produced by "Lindner, Eddy & Clauss. Lith, N.Y.," as noted in print along the base of the banner.
Due to the combination of its great rarity, stunning design, and popular subject matter, this is considered by many to be the premier nonsport tobacco banner in the collecting world. Most collectors are familiar with the actual cards from the American Indian Chiefs set, which are among the most desirable of all nonsport tobacco cards, and the corresponding album, but the advertising banner is exceedingly rare. This is one of only a few examples we have ever seen and just the third we have ever offered. It is interesting to note that this piece has always been afforded special status within the hobby. Catalogued G-1 in the original American Card Catalog, this seldom-seen tobacco banner is one of the ACC's most highly valued items. In the 1930s Jefferson Burdick assigned it a value of $20 at a time when the most valuable of all cards, the T206 Honus Wagner, was valued at a then very impressive $50. These banners were produced by tobacco companies for display in tobacco stores, to promote their particular brands and card issues. They are perhaps the most finely produced of all advertising displays relating to card collecting, and are considered by many to be the greatest prizes of all nineteenth-century tobacco-card collecting.
The offered banner (19.5 x 28 inches; visible dimensions) remains housed in its original mount (23 x 31.5 inches). Both the banner and mount display varying degrees of staining , which is more noticeable on the mount. The mount also display a number of chips and tears along perimeter. The frame (27 x 36 inches) is well worn, with a number of moderate chips and abrasions. Please Note: As previously mentioned, this piece is housed in its original frame. The back of the frame is simply a piece of plywood (split in a number of areas) held in by nails along the perimeter. As such, it is not a very secure backing and allows for slight movement of the piece in the frame. The backing is even slightly smaller than the piece, which fosters chipping along the edges when it moves. As a result, we cannot guarantee there will be no further chipping and/or more serious damage during shipping. REA will do our best to pack the piece as safely as possible, but the buyer assumes the risk of damage during shipping. The substantial size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot. Reserve $2,500. Estimate (open).
Due to the combination of its great rarity, stunning design, and popular subject matter, this is considered by many to be the premier nonsport tobacco banner in the collecting world. Most collectors are familiar with the actual cards from the American Indian Chiefs set, which are among the most desirable of all nonsport tobacco cards, and the corresponding album, but the advertising banner is exceedingly rare. This is one of only a few examples we have ever seen and just the third we have ever offered. It is interesting to note that this piece has always been afforded special status within the hobby. Catalogued G-1 in the original American Card Catalog, this seldom-seen tobacco banner is one of the ACC's most highly valued items. In the 1930s Jefferson Burdick assigned it a value of $20 at a time when the most valuable of all cards, the T206 Honus Wagner, was valued at a then very impressive $50. These banners were produced by tobacco companies for display in tobacco stores, to promote their particular brands and card issues. They are perhaps the most finely produced of all advertising displays relating to card collecting, and are considered by many to be the greatest prizes of all nineteenth-century tobacco-card collecting.
The offered banner (19.5 x 28 inches; visible dimensions) remains housed in its original mount (23 x 31.5 inches). Both the banner and mount display varying degrees of staining , which is more noticeable on the mount. The mount also display a number of chips and tears along perimeter. The frame (27 x 36 inches) is well worn, with a number of moderate chips and abrasions. Please Note: As previously mentioned, this piece is housed in its original frame. The back of the frame is simply a piece of plywood (split in a number of areas) held in by nails along the perimeter. As such, it is not a very secure backing and allows for slight movement of the piece in the frame. The backing is even slightly smaller than the piece, which fosters chipping along the edges when it moves. As a result, we cannot guarantee there will be no further chipping and/or more serious damage during shipping. REA will do our best to pack the piece as safely as possible, but the buyer assumes the risk of damage during shipping. The substantial size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot. Reserve $2,500. Estimate (open).