This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/22/2019
Enos Gordon Goudey, founder of the Goudey Gum Company, was born in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. So perhaps it's no surprise that when the legendary 1933 Goudey baseball card series was released, a similar production by Goudey owned World Wide Gum of Montreal (also known as Canadian Goudey) was issued the same year, far smaller in number than the 240-card Goudey set at just 96 cards, but created with virtually identical card fronts and the same number sequence for cards #1-52. The offered collection of eight proof sheets has survived in amazing condition for over 80 years and provides a demonstration of the various stages and color processes that went into the production of the 1933 World Wide Gum series. Because the sheets are blank-backed and sequenced from the low number series (#1-24), they can easily be mistaken for Goudey sheets, but the bolder colors and subtle differences in card stock confirm that their origins are north of the border. The eight sheets, which make up a complete production set for the front of the card (not necessarily in the exact order used to create the finished product) include 1) black ink, 2) blue ink, 3) pink ink, 4) red ink, 5) yellow ink, 6) yellow and red ink together, 7) red, blue and yellow ink, and 8) the complete product without the backs added. The 6 x 4 pattern of the cards are in number sequence, with #1 Benny Bengough positioned top left and #24 Andy Cohen on the bottom right. In between are the cards in the sequence and in number order, including Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance, Paul Waner, Jimmie Foxx, Tony Lazzeri, Al Simmons, Heinie Manush and Frankie Frisch. Also included are the cover and back sheets with handwritten notations from the printer that protected the set and were bound together through punch holes on each sheet. A similar sheet to the near final product in this collection is known that displays the same punch hole pattern and with a finished reverse, likely associated with this collection at one time as the final prototype. As if the mere existence and possibility of obtaining this collection at auction wasn't enough to stir the passions of any vintage collector, what is even more astonishing is the pristine condition of each sheet. Free of the usual wear around the perimeter and light creases on the surface that plague modern card sheets, these sheets are all in NM or better condition with many of the cards in NM/MT or even MINT condition (except for the ones with the punch holes of course). Each sheet is approximately 14 1/4" x 11 1/2" in size. This is a truly unparalleled offering that pays tribute to one of the best productions in sports card history!