1501# Old Baseball Card Photographs - Ramly Cigarettes (T204) Series - Super High Resolution DVD

Old Baseball Card Photographs - Ramly Cigarettes (T204) Series - Super High Resolution DVD

This rare collection of 110 outstanding T-204 baseball cards issued by the Ramly Turkish Cigarette Company in 1909 is miraculously preserved on DVD. Late 19th century witnessed the birth of a new era in tobacco advertising when J.B. "Buck" Duke, owner of W. Duke & Sons Company began issuing striking mini-posters of baseball stars with each packet of Dukes cigarettes. It appears that the idea of obtaining a copyright did not strike Duke in time. Before long, almost every cigarette manufacturer in the country was issuing baseball cards similar to the ones issued by him. Competition between cigarette firms climaxed in the 1890s, and while manufacturers probably lost sleep over issues such as copyright and market shares, baseball emerged an undoubted winner. While the popularity of baseball and its players soared with each successful season, the tobacco cards served as handy reminders of the year’s accomplishments.

By the 1890’s Duke struck upon another ingenious idea. Faced with ever-growing competition, he suggested that all cigarette manufacturers merge into a single company - the American Tobacco Company. Several manufacturers accepted Duke’s idea. While managers of tobacco firms could now put their feet up and relax, it also spelt near-doom for the brilliant baseball cards, which were no longer thought a necessity. This monopolistic idea did not go down well with the government and the American Tobacco Company was dissolved a little later. This also signaled the resurgence of baseball cards, which made their triumphant return in brilliant colors and style.

Baseball cards were catalogued as the "T" series (T for tobacco) and numbered according to their class, type and year of issue. Among the most popular series of baseball cards was the T-206, produced between 1909 and 1911. Around the time T-206's were appearing, the Ramly Company issued their own series of baseball cards. These ornate, almost square cards present quite a challenge to type set collectors.

This DVD is a treasure trove for card collectors as it contains over 110+ brilliant examples of Ramly Baseball cards, including some that may be rare and difficult to locate.

Sample thumbnails taken from the collection.

CONTENTS:

The Ramly Turkish Cigarette Company issued the T-204 baseball cards in 1909, which are reproduced in this DVD. These brilliantly designed cards, with striking images of popular baseball players, printed on 2-1/2" by 2-1/2" cards, feature black and white oval photographic portraits of popular baseball stars with impressive gold embossed frames and borders on the front. The backs carry only the most basic information on the cigarette company. Found in this DVD are 110 stunning and well-preserved examples of Ramly’s creations. Due to their scarcity, the Ramly set is difficult to find, which makes this DVD a genuine collector’s item

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Few marketing gimmicks have met with the kind of run-away success that cigarette manufacturers enjoyed in the late 19th century. Cashing in on James Duke’s brilliant ploy to piggyback on the popularity of baseball, several tobacco companies issued fabulous cards portraying popular baseball stars of the era.

Fortunately for history buffs and diehard baseball fans like me, collectors down the years have salvaged and conserved a handful of these masterpieces which not only preserve a historic perspective of the game but also reflect on the marketing genius of Duke and the advances made in printing technology at the time. Those who grew up in the 50s and 60s will certainly recall the Topps Company cards, which portrayed popular ball players of the day. These cards bear testimony to the continued popularity of baseball cards seventy years after the first lot was printed.

While the achievements of players featured on these cards may mean little to baseball fans today, the vintage value and antiquity of the cards themselves make them invaluable and priceless collectibles. With so much of historic wealth packed into a single DVD, I don’t think any knowledgeable baseball card collector would let go of this opportunity to add this DVD to his or her collection.

CUSTOMER'S REVIEWS:

"The most likely place to find me on weekends is in my attic, where I spend hours pouring over my priceless collection of baseball cards. For months I was a little discouraged - unable locate a few cards from the Ramly series. And then I spotted this DVD. I held my breath and crossed my fingers as I slid the DVD into my PC and waited impatiently. To cut the story short, I found all ten cards that I had been looking for in this DVD. Now my set is complete. They have produced DVDs on other baseball card series as well, and I am waiting to get my hands on each of them."

Customer's Name: Tommy Miller. (Miami, Florida)