Auction #4 - January 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2020
In addition to other iconic sets like the R60 G-Men, R69 Horrors of War, R73 Goudey Indians, the R136 1933-34 National Chicle Sky Birds is one of the key sets of the Early Gum cards of the 1930's. Its beautiful art deco look along with important WWI flying subjects captured the imagination of the children of the day. The set, like many of the day was issued in sheets of 24 cards and series with back variations noting different numbers of series in the set. This method created a number of variations--some of which are difficult to find and create a good challenge for the variation collectors.
The list of famous aviators in the series is long and storied. It includes Frenchman Roland Garros--the namesake for the famous french Tennis stadium and Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles A Lindbergh and more. It includes an extremely popular card of Amelia Earhart--lost forever somewhere in the South Pacific. In addition to the cards picturing the famous aviators, many cards--especially in the higher series picture famous aircraft from the 1920's and 1930's such as the Bristol Fighter, Fokker Triplane, the Winnie May and the incomparable Spirit of St. Louis.
This complete set of (108) cards is in phenomenal mid to upper grade. All 108 cards are like-backed 'Series of 144' cards. The difficult high number series cards are in just a hair lesser condition than are the lower numbered cards. All 108 card fronts and card backs have been scanned in (24) different high resolution pictures within this auction. The first (20) pictures can be clicked on and enlarged and the final (4) are displayed below the description here.
The condition breakdown on the set is as follows: EXMT to NRMT (12%), VGEX to EX (60%) and VG or lesser (28%). Just a very aesthetically pleasing set that, with a few upgrades could be an upper tier collection worth of inclusion in even the best of collections. The lower graded cards are done so primarily due to a light crease or moderate corner wear.
Click above for larger image.