This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2019
The Mayflower Doughnut Shop opened in New York City in 1931, changing their name to The Doughnut Corporation of America a few years later and becoming the nation's first doughnut shop chain, expanding to 18 stores throughout several states. In 1937, the company adopted a marketing technique that was used to help Bazooka and Hostess rise to prominence, printing collectible cards directly onto the packaging. This obscure but colorful collection; the 72 cards that make up the 1937 Donut (Doughnut) Corp. of America Thrilling Moments set, were printed directly on the company’s doughnut boxes and feature both sports and non-sports personalities, led by the iconic Babe Ruth. Other prominent athletes in the series include football players Red Grange and Knute Rockne, boxing champions Jack Dempsey and John Sullivan, golfing legend Bobby Jones and tennis great Bill Tilden. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt lead the contingent of other famous Americans. The individual cards were meant to be cut out of the box and glued into an album called "Thrilling Moments in the Lives of Famous Americans." As a result, the large majority of hand-cut cards that have survived show extensive back damage, but this complete set has been spared the usual missing paper, showing some examples irregular cutting and discoloration on the reverse but mostly at or near the top of most known examples in terms of condition. Nine of the cards are PSA graded: PSA 6 Lincoln (one of 2, none higher), Rockne (1 of 2, none higher) and Sullivan (one of one, none higher), PSA 4 Ruth (one of 2, none higher) and AUTHENTIC Bobby Jones, Buffalo Bill, George Washington, Red Grange and Sitting Bull. The rest of the set is 15% EX/MT or better, 35% EX or better, 30% VG/EX and 20% lower, not accounting for any variances in the card size.