(LOT #19) 1895 N300 Mayo Fred Pfeffer (2nd Base) SGC 50
There are two variations of this card in the N300
Mayo set. Pfeffer (2nd base), and Pfeffer (Retired). It is important
to note that out of a total population of 29 cards graded by SGC of both
variations there are only 2 examples that grade higher than an SGC 50.
There are no creases. The only flaw are two tiny specs of paper loss on
the back, slight o/c to the left, and tiny corner wear. This is an
outstanding Mayo of Pfeffer
Here is some
history, and information about the Mayo set: In the 1880's, company's Duke
& Sons, Kinney Brothers, Goodwin & Company, Allen & Ginter, and W.S. Kimball
found themselves in fierce competition. They used tobacco premiums to entice
buyers to choose one brand over another. Then in 1890, James Buchanan (the son
of Duke & Sons) acquired the four rival company's. James Buchanan became the
president of the newly formed firm, "The American Tobacco Company." After the
formation of The American Tobacco Company, there was a gap in the production of
premium baseball tobacco cards. Because of the newly formed monopoly there
wasn't really a need for the added expenditure of the premium. Under these
conditions, in 1895 in an attempt to gain attention, the Richmond, Virginia
based company P.H. Mayo produced a series of 40 baseball player tobacco cards.
The cards were distributed nationally in packages of Mayo's Cut Plug chewing and
smoking tobacco. Measuring 1 5/8 x 2 7/8" the cards featured portraits of
players in black and white, or sepia tone. There were 8 card variations
(misspellings and team variations) which actually bring the set count up to 48.
Within the set of 48, there are 12 cards picturing players in their street
clothes. The other 36 show players in uniform.