Auction #13 - February 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2023
The N79 Duke Tobacco History of Poor Boys is another set of (50) sixteen page booklets. The booklets are similar in format to the Histories of Generals (N78) set issued in a similar time frame by Duke. The subjects in the Poor Boys do not exclusively feature 'boys' but do have a very few women subjects. Famous--and very popular--subjects in the series include William F Cody or "Buffalo" Bill, P.T. Barnum and Thomas Edison, among others. Typically, the two most valuable booklets in the series are John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain--both famous boxers. Other luminaries include Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe and a host of other people who went from rags to riches.
This set is overall a very nice set and well above the condition normally found on these cards. Individually, the break value on the set is strong and should be considered when bidding.
Booklets in this set range in the VGEX to NRMT condition with most in the EX to EXMT range. There don't appear to be any booklets with paper pulls on the back which are common with this and the N78 issue. The key boxer booklets are in clean shape. As is custom with this and the N78 issue, there are more size variances in these booklets than in the standard lithographed cards from Duke. This is a turnkey set that would slot into the best of collections.
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