Allen & Ginter was a tobacco company founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1866 by William Allen and W.W. Ginter. In the late 19th century, Allen & Ginter began inserting collectible cigarette cards into their tobacco products as a marketing gimmick. These early cigarette cards featured topics ranging from sports to history and more. The Allen & Ginter baseball cards produced between 1887-1889 are some of the most coveted and valuable vintage baseball cards in existence today due to their rarity, condition and historical significance.
Allen & Ginter released a total of three baseball card series during this time period – 1887, 1888 and 1889. The 1887 set is considered the true first major set of baseball cards ever produced. It featured 29 cards highlighting players from both the National League and American Association. Some of the biggest stars included in the 1887 set were Cap Anson, Jim O’Rourke and Buck Ewing. Only about 50 complete 1887 Allen & Ginter baseball card sets are known to still exist today in various conditions, making individual cards extremely rare and valuable. In near mint condition, key cards like a Cap Anson or Buck Ewing from 1887 can fetch six figure prices or more at auction.
The 1888 Allen & Ginter set expanded to 65 cards and included players from smaller minor leagues of the time in addition to the two major organizations. Rarity remains extremely high for the 1888 set as well, with perhaps only 100 or so complete sets believed to still be around. Top stars like Mike “King” Kelly and Jim McCormick remain the most in demand and priciest from this set. High grade examples can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars each. Condition is especially important when evaluating 1888 Allen & Ginter cards, as the paper quality was somewhat inferior to the 1887 issue.
For the 1889 set, Allen & Ginter increased production somewhat but still featured relatively short print runs compared to later tobacco era issues. The 1889 set is the largest of the three at 102 cards. It encompassed many of the same players and teams as the 1888 set while also expanding coverage to include new players and teams. Rarity levels are higher than 1888 but not quite as scarce as 1887. The inclusion of more players results in wider varieties of stars and “commons” to collect from the 1889 set compared to previous years. Even so, a complete, high grade 1889 Allen & Ginter baseball card set could conceivably be worth over $1 million today.
Individually, the most coveted cards from the 1889 set include future Hall of Famers like Cap Anson, Buck Ewing and Jim O’Rourke as well as popular players of the time like Bug Holliday, Dan Brouthers and Ed Delahanty. These star cards in top condition can reach the $10,000+ range or higher depending on several factors. There is also demand for complete team sets within the 1889 issue, such as a group of cards showing an entire league or specific team’s roster. These specialized subsets can often command mid five-figure prices or more.
Beyond just the condition and rarity factors, the Allen & Ginter sets hold additional historical significance that contributes to their investment value. They were among the very first baseball cards ever produced as part of the early development of the hobby. They helped spread interest in baseball players and teams during the formative years when the sport was still growing in popularity nationwide in the late 1800s. The inclusion of players who would later be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame makes Allen & Ginter cards an important part of documenting the early professional game’s history as well. This level of nostalgia and collectibility continues to drive prices higher over time for surviving examples.
Grading and preservation is especially important when evaluating Allen & Ginter cards due to the fragile nature of the approximately 130 year old paper stock they were printed on. Even minor signs of aging, handling or imperfections can drastically reduce a card’s value. Professionally graded examples through services like PSA or SGC provide a consistent frame of reference for condition, and slabs help protect the fragile cards. Completeness is also a major factor, as cards excised from tobacco wrappers or missing coupons are worth considerably less. Original tobacco coloration adds eye-appeal and nostalgia, while whitened or discolored examples suffer price penalties.
The Allen & Ginter baseball card issues of the late 1880s remain among the most significant and valuable in the entire collecting hobby due to their enormous historical importance and rarity levels achieved through over a century of survival. Even in lower grades, key stars and complete sets retain considerable value worth many thousands based on their place in the early development of baseball cards and memorabilia. With so few surviving the ravages of time intact, Allen & Ginter cards are a premier collectible for enthusiasts of vintage memorabilia and the earliest years of professional baseball history in America. Their value seems sure to continue appreciating for discerning investors.
