R73 Goudey Gum Indian Gum Complete Set of (216) Cards plus (1) Duplicate

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/28/2020

The 1933 Goudey Indian series is one of the quintessential dozen or so nonsports sets issued from the 1880's to 1970's. It's one of the more widely collected sets due to the variety of ways it can be collected. Although the set is entitled "Indian Gum", it pictures not only Indians, but settlers and well known Western figures as well. Many of the cards picture headshots of a single Indian while others picture action scenes of a number of people in frontier life. Popular subjects in the set include well known figures like Sitting Bull and Pocahantas, Daniel Boone, Davie Crockett, Jim Bridger, Colonel Bowie and others.

The set was apparently issued in series with multiples of (24) cards and printed on sheets in a similar manner. The set numbers 216 different numbers with many of the numbers having associated varieties. Within the sets, the most noticeable varieties are differences in card backs. The card backs generally say "This is a series of XXX cards". The different series associated with the set on the backs are 24, 48, 96, 192, 216, 264, 288 and 312. Different series are tougher than others and sometimes different cards within a series are tougher than other cards within that series. Although there are 216 different card numbers, a total of 432 different combinations can be found--some of which are very difficult and very expensive.

Series breakdown on this set + 1 includes the following breakdown by series: Series of 24 (zero cards), Series of 48 (66 cards), Series of 96 (40 cards), Series of 192 (34 cards--30 "More" and 4 "More cards"), Series of 216 (24 cards), Series of 264 (24 cards), Series of 288 (2 cards - #154 and #179), Series of 312 (27 cards--3 of which are white background cards--#156, #167 and #196).

Condition breakdown on the set +1 includes the following: 25% VGEX to EX condition, 40% GVG to VG and 35% lesser. With a few upgrades, this set could be a good middle grade set. Of the 35% lesser condition cards, most present well and are clean overall with just creasing issues. There are only a very few significantly lower grade cards in the set. All card fronts and backs have been scanned for viewing.