Bromides were generally sold in hanging bundles called "taba." Each taba consisted of many single card paper "packs" tied together with a string. When the purchaser requested a "pack," the candy store owner removed a random pack from the taba. The purchaser was then able to open the "pack" to see which card he had received. In addition to the regular cards in hanging bundles, large size premium cards were attached to a large promotional display sheet that hung in the store. First prize cards were generally about 7" x 10". Second prize cards were about 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". Third prize cards were about 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". The regular bromides were normally blank backed, but if a customer pulled one from a pack that had the number "1", "2", or "3" on the back, he was entitled to select a first, second or third prize large size card from the display sheet. As a result, the larger prize premium cards were generally manufactured in much lower quantities than the regular cards.
These are second prize winner cards. Large color bromides are not seen often. These cards come from several different sets. Hall of Fame Members include: Yoshiyuki Iwamoto, Hideo Fujimoto (lifetime 1.90 ERA), Tetsuharu Kawakami (shown with red bat), Hiroshi Oshita (Kawakami's rival), Takehiko Bessho (47 complete games in one season) and Makoto Kozuru (1st to hit 50 HR). Others are Sugiyama-Dragons, Yuki-Hawks (2 diff.), Kawasaki-Clippers (one year franchise), Kaneda-Tigers, Doigaki-Orions, Tsujii-Robins and Hatsuoka-Swallows.
Size: Average--3 5/8" x 5"
Condition: Range-- Fair to Ex/Mt. Average-Vg/Ex to Ex.
Please visit us at the 27th National Sports Collectors Convention July 26-30, 2006
Anaheim Convention Center Booth #1502