The term ‘Tiffany’ refers to a special subset of vintage baseball cards that are considered extremely rare and valuable among card collectors. The Tiffany brand designation originated in the late 19th century when manufacturer Charles Tiffany & Co. began producing high-quality baseball cards as part of their trading card collection.

At the time in the 1880s and 1890s, baseball cards were mainly included as less valuable inclusions in cigar packs and tobacco products to help advertise the brands. These early baseball cards were often printed on low quality, bleached paper stock that was prone to damage over time. In 1887 Tiffany & Co. launched a series of premium baseball cards that stood out for their superior production values.

Tiffany cards were crafted from high-grade paper stock and printed with vivid colors and crisp details that stood the test of time much better than competitors. They also featured more artistic designs on the fronts and backs compared to plain tobacco inclusion cards. This eventually led collectors to covet Tiffany cards as the creme de la creme of early baseball memorabilia.

It’s important to note that Tiffany didn’t actually manufacture the cards themselves – they contracted other printing companies like NY Lithograph Co. to produce them according to Tiffany’s specifications. The Tiffany brand name quickly became synonymous with the finest quality baseball cards available in the late 19th century. Production of Tiffany cards lasted from about 1887 through the early 1890s before the company exited the baseball card business.

Throughout the 1900s and to today, Tiffany cards have maintained their top-tier status among serious vintage baseball card collectors. They are exceedingly rare finds in collector circles due to very low print runs versus tobacco inclusion cards from the same time period. Only a tiny fraction of early baseball cards carry the legendary Tiffany name, making them highly sought after.

Prices for Tiffany cards at auction can be astronomical depending on condition and specific player featured. In recent decades, rare near-mint or gem mint Tiffany cards of baseball greats like Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, and Cy Young have commanded six figure prices or more at major card auctions. Even well-worn but identifiable Tiffany cards still carry heavy premiums over their non-Tiffany contemporaries.

The Tiffany legend is also enhanced by mysteries still surrounding the brand. Details are scarce on exact print runs and distribution methods. No archival records exist from Tiffany & Co.’s short time producing cards over 100 years ago. This element of the unknown only fuels Tiffany cards’ allure as the pinnacle achievements of 19th century sports memorabilia. In short, any vintage baseball card bearing the iconic Tiffany nameplate immediately signifies the highest status, condition, and value that collectors seek.

The Tiffany designation revolutionized early baseball card quality and collecting standards over a century ago. Even today, Tiffany continues to represent the crème de la crème that all other vintage issues are judged against. Any Tiffany find instantly places its owner in the enviable position of possessing one of the rarest surviving relics from the earliest days of America’s national pastime. Tiffany cards are truly the crown jewels of baseball memorabilia collecting that spark imaginations of historians and fans alike.