GREENVILLE

Collector, author donates book on tobacco cards

Forbes, of DuPont, Wash., presented the 464 page book, a price guide and checklist for collectors and hobbyists, recently to Sheila Kretser, library director. It also is signed by co-author Terence Mitchell of Seattle, Wash.

Tobacco cards and similar memorabilia were most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book is liberally illustrated with picture cards and related items, many in full color.

Miss Kretser said, "We appreciate receiving this volume. We know little about tobacco cards and the hobby of collecting them. It will be an interesting addition to our library collection."

She added, "We’re also proud that it was compiled and written by a Greenville native. We congratulate him."

Forbes, son of Ian Scott and Carol Forbes of Greenville, was a serious collector of baseball and other sport cards who redirected his interest a number of years ago to nonsports tobacco cards.

He said, "There are fewer tobacco cards available to the collector than today’s sports cards. A large part of the fun of this hobby is simply finding the cards. The challenge of the hunt is far greater than the cost of most nonsports cards and the reward when you finally locate one you’re looking for is just tremendous."

The West Coast collector said the near mint condition card of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Honus Wagner that sold for $1.265 million recently actually was issued in a tobacco product. The card also is classified as a tobacco card.

Forbes said he started his tobacco card collection with a box of cards given to him by his parents. The cards originally were owned by his grandfather, John C. Forbes, who had lived in the Pittsburgh area.

Cards, often printed in series, showed famous celebrities, birds, flags of nations, states and territories, great generals, state and U.S. Capitol buildings, pirates, U.S. presidents, actors and actresses, college logos, seals and flags and many other categories. The quality of art in many of the card issues is exceptional.

Forbes explained that the book traces the history of tobacco that dates to before the days of Christopher Columbus. Through the cards we gain insights into the American culture, he said.

He added, "It also covers a fascinating period of American history. The tobacco companies and the cards reflect the growth of numerous small companies as tobacco became more popular. It recalls the industrialization of the process, the consolidation into one huge tobacco trust, the American Tobacco Co. and the trust busting actions by Teddy Roosevelt and subsequent breakup of the trusts."

The cards reflect the interests, morals, and prejudices of the day and often give great insight on how life was around the turn of the last century, he said.