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“Everything Old is New Again”
So goes the song, and here’s something that proves its truth: tobacco trading cards! At the turn of the 20th Century, one of the first methods of marketing tobacco, cigarette papers, and premade cigarettes was the trading card. Now in the 21st Century, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company of Winston Salem, NC, has reintroduced the concept.
Why, you might ask, should you buy something that is so new? These cards are NOT antiques. They are NOT vintage. So why should you buy them? For the same reason you buy any other beautiful collector’s item, with the added bonus that these will certainly increase in value.
Social mores of the 19th and 20th Centuries encouraged men to smoke. The 20th Century saw an explosion of women smokers. Trading Card collectors of that era had less incentive to hold those trading cards than we do now. Smoking seemed the accepted thing to do. It was manly. It became the accepted, fashionable, even sophisticated thing for women. The prospect of the cards becoming obsolete seemed unlikely. Not so today. The social mores have done an about face and tobacco products and any associated memorabilia, along with smoking itself, are on the endangered list. Indeed, smoking could soon become an illegal activity and tobacco a controlled or outlawed substance.
 These cards are from the R.J. Reynolds 2006 “America’s Backyard - Celebrate America” series of 22 picture cards plus a list card. The front of each 1-1/2" x 2-11/16" glossy picture card contains a beautifully detailed full-color rendition of a plant or tree, plus its series ID number, framed on a black background. The back of each picture card contains the plant’s name and interesting facts about it. The photo at left shows the back of the “Evening Primrose” card. The card backs are identical in style and color, with the text of each being specific to the plant depicted on the front. The front and back of the list card is pictured above.
Right now we have more than one of some cards, but only one of others, so you may wish to send us an email inquiring as to available quantities if you want more than one of each. All cards are in pristine condition.
So you collect these cards because (1) they are beautiful pieces of art, (2) they are produced in limited quantities, ensuring future scarcity, and (3) they are destined to quickly go extinct. In other words, they are not only beautiful, they may be one of the best collectible investments you can make for yourself and your children!
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