1934-36 National Chicle R327 Diamond Stars

Set Size:108 cards, 2-3/8 x 2-7/8"

Design Notes: White borders surround player artwork, with his name somewhere near a border in all capital letters. The backs use green or blue ink to highlight the player's career; the cards carry copyright information including the year at the bottom.

Parallels and Similars: Some players have both green and blue backs and/or statistics variations on the back, making a master set complete at 170 cards. Cards have been reprinted over the years, and Topps issued a throwback National Chicle set in 2010.

Distribution: Cards were sold in penny packs with gum.

Thoughts: The art deco design of these cards is bold and really stands out compared to other issues of the time (like Goudey sets of 1935 and 1936). Putting a set together is out of my price range, so this is another issue that I would enjoy as a reprint set. I enjoy the art so much that I am one of the few who enjoyed the 2010 Topps National Chicle set.

Additional Links: Old Cardboard's page has a checklist and card gallery.

1934 Diamond Match Co. Silver Border

Set size: 200 matchbooks

Front Design: The front of the matchbook has a black and white player photo surrounded by a silver border. The player's name and team appear above the photo on the "top" (called the saddle) of the matchbook.

Back Design: The matchbook back contains a short biography inside a border with a glove/ball/crossed bat header. The inside of the matchbook (which would be the back side of the image above) is blank. The match strike appears below the biography and identifying mark "THE DIAMOND MATCH CO. NEW YORK" (obviously cut or torn from my example).

Parallels and Similars: Red, green, blue, and orange backgrounds exist for each player, and are equally scarce. There are three additional series of covers with different designs.

Distribution: Matchbooks were a popular collectible in the 1930s, and generally sold two for a penny.

Thoughts: Matchbooks are fairly unique as far as cards go, so this is a fun addition to my collection. I would like to have a complete matchbook from one of the Diamond Match Co. issues, because this one is lacking identifying characteristics of a matchbook. This would be an interesting way to release a baseball issue these days, given the views towards tobacco, which most matchbooks are used for (I guess - or birthday candles).

Additional Links: Century Old Cards has a page devoted to all the Diamond Match Company issues. Old Baseball has a checklist.