19th Century Baseball's Black Beauties: N300 Mayo's Cut Plug

Card Specs: 1.63" × 2.88" | 48 Cards | Black & White or Sepia Portraits | Classification: 19th Century Tobacco | N300

The 1895 N300 Mayo’s Cut Plug set, issued by the P.H. Mayo & Brother tobacco company, stands as one of the most visually striking and historically significant issues of the 19th century. With its stark black borders and formal portraits, it offers a somber, elegant tribute to baseball's pioneers. The set is technically composed of 40 unique players, but 8 variations exist due to players changing teams or uniform styles during the 1894-1895 production run.

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Dan Brouthers & Buck Ewing

The N300 checklist is a "who’s who" of 19th-century legends, capturing many stars in the prime of their careers. Cap Anson anchors the set and remains one of the most desirable cards of the 19th century. Ed Delahanty is another standout, notably misspelled as “Delehanty” on most versions of the card (the examples on which his name is spelled correctly are much more valuable). The checklist is further bolstered by Hall of Famers Dan Brouthers, Buck Ewing, Kid Nichols, Amos Rusie, John Clarkson, and Monte Ward.

The N300 Aesthetic: The "Black Beauty"

The clear defining characteristic of the N300 set is its bold black border, with the Mayo's Cut Plug logo and "For Chewing and Smoking" tagline across the bottom. Players are shown in portrait-style photographs, wearing either uniforms or formal attire, with names and positions overlayed across the bottom image. The reverse side is all black, another defining characteristic of the issue.

N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Kid Nichols & Amos Rusie

Since the cards were distributed as tobacco premiums in tins or cloth bags, a thicker cardboard stock was required, versus the thin paper of the cards of its contemporaries, which were inserted in cigarette packs. Despite their sturdiness, the black ink is incredibly prone to chipping along the edges and corners, making high-grade examples extremely rare and valuable.

Recent 1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Auction Sales

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Kid Nichols SGC 5.5 - Sold for $26,400 - 2025 Spring Auction

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Ed Delahanty PSA 6 - Sold for $21,000 - 2025 Summer Auction

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Cap Anson PSA 4 - Sold for $18,600 - 2025 Summer Auction

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Buck Ewing SGC 5 - Sold for $9,300 - 2025 Summer Auction

1895 N300 Mayo's Cut Plug Dan Brouthers PSA 4 - Sold for $8,610 - 2025 Fall Auction

N300 Mayo's Cut Plug John Clarkson & Monte Ward

Selling 1895 Mayo's Cut Plug Cards

Our auctions regularly feature a wide variety of 19th century tobacco cards, including Mayo's Cut Plug. We're happy to help you with authentication, grading, and positioning your cards for the best possible return. Reach out today to connect with a specialist to learn more about how our signature approach to collectibles helps vintage card owners find the best path to sale.