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Rare 1956 Topps Adventure Max Schmeling

grilloj39grilloj39 Posts: 370 ✭✭
in PSA Set Registry Forum
Card is rare because Topps rightfully pulled the card from the series shortly after its distribution. The rationale was that many collectors were offended (and rightfully so) due to a Swastika placed on the Schmeling card. Topps tried to feature each international boxer with their national colors or logo (i.e. Maple Leaf for Canadian fighters) but missed the boat in designing the Schmeling card. Max Schmeling was an interesting character, (the man who defeated Louis while Joe L was in his prime). He hated how the Nazis utilized his name for propaganda purposes, and always stood by his Jewish manager (I cannot recall the name but I think his last name was Jacobs). However, Max did fight for the Wehrmacht in WWII, although he was an ardent anti-Nazi.

I am pursuing the 56 adventure set and recently purchased the rare Schmeling card to complete my set. I had mixed emotions about pursuing the card to complete the set versus purchasing a card with an emblem that stood for nothing but hatred, murder, and contempt.
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e-bay ID: grilloj39
e-mail: grilloj39@gmail.com

Comments

  • yawie99yawie99 Posts: 2,575 ✭✭✭
    I think you made the right decision to acquire the card for your set. A card like that is so much more than just a little piece of cardboard picturing an athlete. There's so much history and culture embedded in that card.

    I checked out the auction for it and I guess the seller had to blur the swastika to comply with eBay regulations, especially those pertaining to items that appear on eBay's international sites. But for as distasteful as Nazi symbolism may be, I don't think it should just be swept under the rug as if that chapter in history never happened.
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  • HowitallbeganHowitallbegan Posts: 107 ✭
    John

    Great story. I did not know the history of that card
  • MorrellManMorrellMan Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭
    John - congrats on a great snipe!image

    I was watching that auction too, but I can't seem to pull the trigger on the price tag for #86. I agree that's its an important card in our history. I guess I'm just not sold on its value to scarcity, but, to date, if you wants the card you gots to pay the price, and you certainly got a gorgeous one. I remember hearing a long time ago that the card being pulled was more speculation than fact, and I wasn't there in '56 to know for sure. BTW, the manufacturer was Gum Products; were they affiliated with Topps?
    Mark (amerbbcards)


    "All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
  • grilloj39grilloj39 Posts: 370 ✭✭
    Morrell...Thank you. Gum Inc is Topps. Some say when Topps brought Bowman, they temporarily came up with the name Gum Inc, but I don't think anyone knows for sure.
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    e-bay ID: grilloj39
    e-mail: grilloj39@gmail.com
  • VarghaVargha Posts: 2,392 ✭✭
    image

    (Photo edited by listing party)
  • MorrellManMorrellMan Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭
    centering is really weird on this issue - anybody know what the proper centering tolerance for these cards was supposed to be?
    Mark (amerbbcards)


    "All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
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