Update 1

Here are some updates and corrections I have found in the published version (2.2.2.):

1953 Baseball - Jim Suchecki has popped up as another unissued artwork

1956 Baseball Buttons - The buttons (or pins, if you will), were issued in a small box, not an envelope:

1949 Flip-o-Vision - Nos. 8 (Jimmy Wakely  in "Dating Time", 49 (Cab Calloway in "Hi-De-Ho"& 52 (The Aldrich Family in "Balloon Goons") were identified in Card Collectors Bulletin #68 as having two subjects possible for each number. This is not verified but I am hoping someone can provide scans of alternate subjects if they exist.

1955 Davy Crockett Tatoo - Dating on a retail box makes this a 1955 issue, not 1956

There are also a few formatting issues in the printed on demand version I hope to correct at some point but I currently don't have the proper software to do so.  If an update happens, I'll certainly post details here and on the main hobby online forums.

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.