United States Card Catalog, 1939...before the American Card Catalog

grayroads

The essential source for identifying trade cards is J.R. Burdick's American Card Catalog (1946, 1953 & 1960). Burdick died in 1963, thus what comes after him is not really his work. Question: Do any of you have or have you seen Burdick's first catalog: United States Card Catalog published in 1939?

doubledragon

This is it. I got this picture from Robert Edward auctions. It was sold spring 2013. It sold for $4,740.

doubledragon

The inside.

perkdog

Wow that is so cool!

kingnascar

Fantastic piece of hobby history
It even has Burdick's address in Syracuse. I just looked at it on Google Maps and it is now medical offices and a parking lot

jeffv96masters

You want to learn about Burdick and others you bookmark this page kathman posts
Written by long time hobbyist and historian David Kathman
Trust me you can get lost all day long in his informative hobby history posts and subsequent discussions from many old timers.

Jeff

rcmb3220

@kingnascar said:
Fantastic piece of hobby history
It even has Burdick's address in Syracuse. I just looked at it on Google Maps and it is now medical offices and a parking lot

John D Wagner’s house in Harrisburg is still standing.

stevek

@rcmb3220 said:

@kingnascar said:
Fantastic piece of hobby history
It even has Burdick's address in Syracuse. I just looked at it on Google Maps and it is now medical offices and a parking lot

John D Wagner’s house in Harrisburg is still standing.

I wouldn't mind buying that house. Might be a nice stash of T206 cards underneath a floorboard.

Stone193

I have the 1960 hardcover version of the catalog.

Burdick along with Lionel Carter, Charles Bray - were pioneers in the hobby.

I have a copy of a letter where Bray - in 1958 - was offering a whopping 25 bucks for a "nice" Wagner T206.

edit: George knows a ton about the hobby and I've found him to be an incredible resource. I've never met up with him at the National.

Stone193

Want to add the oldest publication that I have in my stack.

The Sports Exchange Trading Post - not much in sales back then, some trading; I guess the war years were lean since there wasn't a lot of sets back then and perhaps way less collectors also?