An interesting and complex trading card issue surfaces, with this 1948 Topps Magic Photos partial set of (131/252). Predating Topps standard sports cards, this set is often overlooked, or even outright ignored in regards to its historic status of featuring Topps first baseball cards. This set of diminutive real photo cards should appeal to both sport and non-sport collectors, as the many subsets include multi-sport stars, movie stars, and a whole lot more. Sized at 7/8 x 1-7/16”, these small format cards were blank, and you had to expose them to sunlight for the photos to develop. The rewards for you efforts, were images of all-time great athletes, and prominent figures from various fields of endeavor, along with a pack of dogs to boot. Well-developed examples are greatly prized by the niche collectors who target this often forgotten set, and this group boasts a good number of cards that should satisfy in the photo clarity department. However, there are also a fair number that display soft images. Condition ranges (80% FR to VG, 20% lesser) with:



Series A Boxing complete subset (24/24) with highlights: John L. Sullivan, James J. Corbett, James J. Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Max Schmeling, Max Baer, James J. Braddock. Joe Louis, and Ray Robinson;



Series B Basketball complete subset (6/6) with: Ralph Beard and Murray Weir adhered back-to-back, Ed Macauley, Kevin O’Shea, Jim McIntyre, Manhattan beats Dartmouth;



Series C Football near complete subset (12/13) with: Doak Walker, Johnny Lujack, George Connor, and Army vs. Navy;



Series D Wrestling complete subset (25/25) with: “Strangler” Lewis, Ernie Dusek, Rudy Dusek, “Masked Marvel”, Tony Galento, Primo Carnera, and Joe Savoldi;



Series E Track and Field complete subset (17/17) with: Jesse Owens, and Army-Navy Tie;



Series F Stage and Screen Stars partial subset (12/22) with: Clark Gable, Olivia De Haviland, and Joan Fontaine;



Series G Dogs partial subset (9/17);



Series H General Sports complete subset (2/2);



Series J Movie Stars starter subset (6/45) with: Jackie Coogan, and Hedy Lamarr;



Series K Baseball partial subset (8/19) with: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Indians 4-3, Cleveland Indians 4-1 Boudreau Scoring, Tris Speaker 793, Connie Mack, Hans Wagner, and Walter Johnson;



Series L Aviation Pioneers starter subset (3/9) with: James Doolittle, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Wright Brothers;



Series N American Inventors starter subset (3/8) with: Robert Fulton;



Series O American Military Leaders starter subset (2/10) with: David Farragut, and George Dewey;



Series S Wild West starter subset (1/7) with: Jesse James;



Series T General Sports starter subset (2/7).

Opening Bid $150.