Print On Demand Version of The Modern Hobby Guide Now Available

The print on demand version is now available from lulu.com.  You can click the link below or off to the right in the Link list.  The books are printed and shipped by lulu; I do not handle them at all.  Thanks for your interest.

ORDER HERE

Version 2.2 Now Available

I skipped Version 2.1 as they were testing versions (PDF artifacts drive me batty!).  This should be the version that ends up at lulu.com as well and I will make an announcement about that in a day or two.  Click the link at right for Version 2.2.

Version 2.0 Now Available

The revised and updated version (2.0) of The Modern Hobby Guide to Topps Chewing Gum: 1938-1956 has been uploaded to The Internet Archive (in a DRM-free PDF version). The link at right will take you to the Internet Archive version as I am scrapping the scribd.com upload.

Please note the checklists are still a little wonky in their formatting and a quick fix is coming, so if you plan to download version 2.0, I recommend waiting a couple more days for version 2.1.There will be a print-on-demand version available at lulu.com.  Watch here for further details.

1955 Topps All American Football

Here are some more scans from this set that were too low in resolution to make the "print" edition.

Here is a cello box with header.You can see that the generic Trading Card Guild box had a colorful display that was quite eye catching.

Typical cello pack front, back and edge (showing how many cards could be packed in):

Here is a partial uncut sheet, front and back, from an old Legendary Auction:

Penny and nickel packs/wrappers:

Here is one of the more iconic cards, Notre Dame's Four Horseman:

Update On The Update

Work continues apace on the checklists from version 2.0 and most other edits I had planned to make have been completed.  However, some significant new information has come to my attention that will take some time to analyze and work into the narrative.  My goal now is to have the next version ready sometime in June, which will allow people who want a book version (to be available on-demand at lulu.com) enough time to order one and have it for the National, which starts at the very end of July.

Trading Card Guild

Here are a number of scans that could not be included in the Modern Hobby Guide due to low image resolution related to the Trading Card Guild.

Generic Trading Card Guild retail box for cello packs. This one allegedly held 1955 All American Football.  Note the 1953 copyright and generally unfinished appearance.

It looks like Topps filled these to order:

 This box was from a Mile High Card Co. auction:

I am not sure of the origin on this box but it replicates the one above but it's easier to read the text:

This red,yellow and blue themed TCG box came out around 1956 or 1957 and seems timed to the reduction of the cards to standard sizing but the red and black theme would also stick around.

I will keep adding to this page as there are a lot of TCG scans out there. 

American Gas Stations

Here are some American Gas Stations matchbooks that were too low in resolution to be reproduced in the Modern Hobby Guide.  The first is an ad from the Brooklyn Eagle from June 14, 1934, the rest are matchbooks (some appear in the guide). I believe these are in chronological order and you can see how the Shorins kept adding locations during the Depression.

 

 

Update on Updates

Please note I plan to start posting low resolution images (i.e. internet standard 72 DPI) that were not included in the guide here shortly, probably starting next week.  I am also going to proceed with version 2.0 of the guide which will include more readable checklists and a few informational updates.  It is anticipated version 2.0 or version 2.1 will be the one available as a print on demand paperback book from lulu.com. Apologies for the delay in making a true book version available as the "real world" has required some extra attention lately.

I am also looking into an additional hosting site for the online version of the guide, whcih should coincide with version 2.0.

Print On Demand Book

I will begin sprucing up the Modern Hobby Guide next week for eventual upload to www.lulu.com, which will allow you to order a book version of the guide in black and white.  Pricing is not set yet but will be reasonable from what I have seen on the site.  I may do a color version if there is enough interest but pricing for that looks like it will be a bit unreasonable and likely in excess of $100. If you have interest in a color copy please e-mail me at the link above.

I am anticipating the print on demand book will be available in late April.  Please note the books will mailed by lulu.com.  This probably doesn't affect anyone reading this post but I may look into a way for a group order to be made for "offline" folks (yes, there still are some) who want a hard copy.  I am not sure this will happen but wanted to mention it.  Unfortunately I don't have enough free time to order a print run of 500 or so copies and then mail them individually.

Updates To The Guide

There have been two three versions uploaded to scribd.com since the original 1.0 version.  1.0 does not have a version number on the title page, it has been added to all later versions.

Version 1.1 corrected some typographical errors and informational one as well:

• 1956 Baseball Buttons were advertised on the box at 90, not 60, now corrected.  
• #100 was added to the 1955 Hocus Focus Small checklist.
• Thanks list, bibliography and Jeff Shepherd contact information updated.

Version 1.2 corrected additional typos and:

• Updated information on the Table of Topps Cards Sizes.  
• Added a reference to Abram Shorin being credited by Topps for coming up with the idea to insert baseball cards with the gum (this is probably not true).

Version 1.2.1 corrected:

• A silly mistake on the Table of Topps Card sizes-it now includes Fighting Marines in the double-windowed red cello TCG packs grouping.

Download the latest version here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/126643197/The-Modern-Hobby-Guide-to-Topps-Chewing-Gum-1938-to-1956

Publication Update

The guide is almost finished and a link will be provided reasonably soon for the downloadable, color PDF version. I wanted to show many more images in the guide than I was able to as many of the scans I had available were low resolution. After looking at various image hosting sites I have decided to simply host them here, to allow folks to view them and read any updates and comments for any given set within one post.

A print edition will also be made available from an on-demand online publisher. This will have as low a cost as possible and therefore necessarily be in black and white. Details will be posted shortly on the print version.