Do You Remember The Civil War News Trading Cards?

[DJ Psychomike]

In 1965 I saw the first of the Civil War News trading cards and became interested in the war. The series was bloody and violent, but it did make me aware of the war.

You can see the card series here:
http://bobheffner.com/cwn/a_indexfront.shtml

The backside would have a news account of the history. I didn't know it at the time, but the artist Norm Saunders had also done MARS ATTACKS! which decades later would be made into a Tim Burton film.

If you have never seen the series before you'll get a charge out of them, if you remmeber them they are sure to stir memories.

[30th_il]

Ebay has them for aution/sale every so oftem Not cheap.

[DJ Psychomike]

You are not joking. Take a look at what an unopened pack goes for!
http://cgi.ebay.com/1962-Topps-Civil-War-News-Unopened-Pack-GAI-9-5-Gem-Mt_W0QQitemZ360037651123QQihZ023QQcategoryZ219QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[gary]

Geez, better than investing in stocks?

[DJ Psychomike]

A sealed pack is very rare, that's why its going for so much. Don't be surprised if the final number isn't close to $500.

The trouble with Civil War art today is its heavy lean on kitsch and romanticism. These cards are the Civil War without romance. Violence and death, the aspects of war that had been glossed over in time, reveal themselves in these packs.

Frankly if there was one Civil War artist out there who painted the death and misery of war, the field would go from in the pool table room to museum quickly.

As a kid you knew not to leave these around where the parents would see them. There is an air of something forbidden in the cards, something not mentioned in polite company North or South, the horrors of war.

[DJ Psychomike]

The pack ended up selling for over $670!

[Blockaderunner]

Would that pack have contained only one trading card?

[DJ Psychomike]

I believe there was a 1 cent and a 5 cent pack. I never got a 1 cent pack, but that one may have only had 1 card. Many packs had 1 of 17 different currency facsimiles.

The 5 cent pack came with a stick of gum, facsimile money from the war and 5 cards.

[ole]

Either you guys are really old, or you spent your scant money on more trivial things than I did. Never did invest in bubble-gum cards.

ole

[DJ Psychomike]

I think baseball cards have always been more popular. But there were some unusual cards. Monster movie cards, Rat Fink hot rods, usually with that stick of gum.

Here is what 10 cards in mint condition are going for on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330110674283&ssPageNam e=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=360037651123 &itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidg ettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo %3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42

to which I can only say, GASP!