The 1888 N172 Old Judge tobacco card set, also known as the “WG1” set, is arguably the most iconic and historically significant baseball card set ever produced. These tiny cardboard advertisements were inserted as incentives in Old Judge tobacco packages during the late 1880s, picturing baseball players from that era. Just two examples remain inNear Mint to Mint condition according to PSA’s rigorous authentication and grading standards, making them incredibly rare and valuable. These graded high-quality specimens offer a fascinating look into our national pastime’s early origins.
This revolutionary set featured 23 different cards picturing famous ballplayers like Buck Ewing, Mike “King” Kelly, and Ned Hanlon. They were printed in black and white with player statistics on the reverse. Though measuring only about 2×3 inches, these minuscule cards had an immense influence by helping spread baseball’s popularity across America. They connected enthusiastic urban youth of the time with their sports idols in a brand new way through consumer culture. Their mass distribution inspired the later creation of full-sized baseball card sets specifically meant for collecting. As baseball grew tremendously as America’s favorite sport in the late 19th century, these cards played a role in cultivating new generations of fans.
Though millions were handed out in tobacco products from the late 1880s-1890s, shockingly few have survived over 130 years later due to their fragile composition and the treatment of items considered minor advertising novelties at the time. Any remaining in pristine condition is nothing short of miraculous. The two 1888 WG1 cards that have achieved PSA’s strict NM-MT 7 and 8 grades are the finest known to exist today from this pioneering set. Their remarkable state of preservation is a testament to the care and conservation practices of the previous custodians who understood their immense rarity and historical value.
Being authenticated and graded by PSA is especially significant for these seminal cards. Founded in 1986, PSA/DNA is universally recognized as the premier third-party grading service, authenticating and assigning quality grades to trading cards, comics, and other collectibles. Their rigorous multi-point inspection and verification process eliminates chances of forgery or doctoring and provides buyers assurance of a card’s condition and provenance. An 1880s baseball card in Near Mint condition defies belief without PSA’s authentication and grading seal of approval. It cements their place as the two finest quality survivors of this pioneering set that birthed the modern sports card collecting hobby.
As true pioneers that predate the T206 set and came only two short years after the National League’s founding, these 1888 WG1 cards painted by baseball legends like Louis Van der Weyde hold immense historical and cultural value. They provide an incredible glimpse into 19th century baseball’s infancy and spread as America’s national pastime. Their rarity is unparalleled—the 7 and 8 graded specimens will likely remain the only authenticated high-grade survivors of this seminal 23-card set in existence. For collectors and historians alike, they represent an iconic connection to our sporting roots that simply cannot be replicated. Though small in size, the legacy and importance of these humble 1888 tobacco advertisements is exceptionally large. They deserve recognition as two of the most prized artifacts in the extensive history of American popular culture and sports memorabilia.
In today’s fast-paced digital world overrun by mass-produced memorabilia, these tiny cardboard relics from the 1880s standing as two of the finest surviving examples graded is nothing short of wondrous. They transcend mere property to become important touchstones of our national identity and shared sporting past. Their journey from inexpensive tobacco novelties to revered historical specimens encapsulates over a century of culture and collecting. As population growth and industrialization vaulted the United States to global prominence in the latter 19th century, so too did our national pastime of baseball spread far and wide through items just like these – reminding us of our shared roots. Their remarkable preservation is a true testament to stewardship by previous caretakers who recognized their singular importance regardless of price. In a field with so few high-quality survivors, these two 1888 WG1 cards will continue to stand virtually alone as authenticated icons of our sporting origins by the authoritative PSA grading service for generations to come.
