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Commie pinko bastids
MorrellMan
Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭
I dove into this one in a big way - picked up two cards, liked them, and got a whole set.
The set is 1951 Bowman Fight the Red Menace. It was a 48 card set with artwork similar to (but more sophisticated than) Bowman's Horrors Of War set issued 15 years earlier under Bowman's original company name of Gum Inc. The card fronts feature some pretty gruesome pictures of war and warfare, while the backs trumpeted rather heavy-handed anti-communist propaganda typical of the McCarthy era. This was an interesting time - shortly after a World War effort that most of America got behind and not long before our involvement in Vietnam that didn't quite get the same support. The questions about "what are we doing this for?" that arose from the Korean War were to light the fires of the anti-war movement that gained impetus into the '60s. IMO, that makes this Red Menace set an incredibly important document of history. It's interesting to note that the back of the cards identifies the set as "CHILDRENS CRUSADE AGAINST COMMUNISM".
As far as the condition of this particular set goes, it is raw and will probably remain raw. 50% is near mint, 40% is exmint and the rest is excellent. I will probably upgrade the 4 or 5 cards that are less than exmint, but for now, I'm just enjoying the artwork and trip down memory lane - (yes, I was 1 when this set came out).
The set is 1951 Bowman Fight the Red Menace. It was a 48 card set with artwork similar to (but more sophisticated than) Bowman's Horrors Of War set issued 15 years earlier under Bowman's original company name of Gum Inc. The card fronts feature some pretty gruesome pictures of war and warfare, while the backs trumpeted rather heavy-handed anti-communist propaganda typical of the McCarthy era. This was an interesting time - shortly after a World War effort that most of America got behind and not long before our involvement in Vietnam that didn't quite get the same support. The questions about "what are we doing this for?" that arose from the Korean War were to light the fires of the anti-war movement that gained impetus into the '60s. IMO, that makes this Red Menace set an incredibly important document of history. It's interesting to note that the back of the cards identifies the set as "CHILDRENS CRUSADE AGAINST COMMUNISM".
As far as the condition of this particular set goes, it is raw and will probably remain raw. 50% is near mint, 40% is exmint and the rest is excellent. I will probably upgrade the 4 or 5 cards that are less than exmint, but for now, I'm just enjoying the artwork and trip down memory lane - (yes, I was 1 when this set came out).
Mark (amerbbcards)
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
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Interesting set. Where did you first come across it? Reading these boards has turned me on to a number of older non sport cards sets that I otherwise would never have known existed.
Once you find an issue that you want to collect in the non-sports arena -- outside of eBay what other avenues do you have to track down the cards?
I continue to appreciate the "sharing" posts.
Matthew
One place to get acquainted with vintage non sports is the registry.
I've always had a weakness for non sports; I collected them in the 50's and I enjoy gathering up stuff that I have coveted over the years. If you're an Angels fan because you live in the SoCal area (like me) there are some decent card shows (Frank and Sons, Hollypark, Airtel) where you can still make some good picks - Robert Marcy of Scottsdale Sportscards is a good source, as well as Ron Wilson and some others. If there's a set you are interested in, try doing a google search of the set name and see what comes up.
Good luck.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Thats gotta be a tough set to get in great condition.
I'll answer for Mike - it is a tough set to get in high grade. The set I've got here would probably grade mostly 7s & 6s, with a few 8s and maybe a few 5s.
This is card # 47 - looks like what Kermit the Frog might see if he looked in the mirror on acid:
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Ive never seen that card that close before. Is that the actual Red Menace with that bloody sword? It looks like a cross between an abominable snowman and the Grinch.
Kind of interesting about how things go in our society - the things that change - but one thing is interesting - it would be jingoitic, to some, if I were to put my flag out every day on my front porch and salute the flag - kind of a shame.
Mark
The original artwork for those cards came up for auction in 1989, if memory serves - I wish I had deep pockets - that kind of stuff is great to collect IMO.
thanx for sharing
mike
I've seen top graded examples of this set go through the roof. I know you're a nut for that original artwork but I'll bet that was major high dollar stuff even 15 years ago.
Matt
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
I always thought it was marketed towards children hence that name. 1951 was during the red scare and this set was to educate kids on the horrors of communism.
JMO
Steve D