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PEP cereal Babe Ruth Rings - PEP Cereal Box 1950 Added!

Hi everyone



The Babe Ruth Quaker thread is the perfect seque to PEP Cereal ring premiums.



I started with 1 ring and once I saw all the different colors - I was off to the races!



Kellogg's PEP Cereal Babe Ruth Toy Ring - c1949-51



When I got to color variation #3, I thought it was time to do a little research.



By the manufacturer, I'm sure everyone has inferred that it's a cereal box premium.



The ring measures about 9/16" in diameter, with 1/8" - wide shanks and a 5/8" square display table, with a 1/2" diameter cello inlay picturing Babe Ruth.



The plastic Babe Ruth toy ring was one of a 16 Ring set, featuring sports, aviation and Wild West themes. The one size fits all, premium Ring was inserted into boxes of Kellogg's PEP Cereal, and came in 6 different colors; Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Gold, Silver.



There are also different shades of these basic colors, such as Light Blue, Olive green and Copper for example.



So, with the "shades" and the 6 basic colors, we're plagued with more variations!!!!



Here's a nice ad to the collection:



notice it doesn't feature the Babe on top - the "jet age" - bigger than the Babe I guess?



image



And here's an actual box off eBay - wants way too much for it! $400! If it were like 50 bucks? I'd get and put it together and shrink wrap it.



image



This is actually my latest pickup - some color combinations are much rarer than others.



image



I'm up to 13 - and since - so far - I've found 4 background variations, the minimum will be 28 total - but since even the ring has color variations - who knows?



Here's a photo of the 13 inside a display case:



image



Tho this may seem nuts? I'm sure I'm in good company. image



Just for completeness - here's a list of the 16 ring subjects:



Babe Ruth

Burt Lancaster

Wanda Hendrix

Gene Tunney

Jack Kramer

Dennis O’Keefe

Daniel Boone

Joanne Dru

Pocahontas

Sitting Bull

Buffalo Bill

Pan American Clipper

XF91 Thunderceptor

F-84E Thunderbolt

F-3DSky Knight

Douglas DC-6

Mike

Comments

  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Mike, any superlatives I write will RING hollow, but I really am impressed with this collection. Are some color combinations scarcer or more common than others? If so, does pricing reflect that? Or are they all so rare that pricing is all over the place?
  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great display and love the ad to go along with it! Have you run across anyone else as 'nuts' as you trying to complete all the variations? Or even anyone else collecting the rings as a set?
  • Collecting all different Ruth rings would never be confused with insanity, only completest. Your collection is one great display piece.

    Now if you were collecting all breeds of cats....well, different story.

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx everyone!



    I'm probably the only guy in the country trying to do this.



    Prices are within a range of 30 to 70 bucks.



    I'm sure there's probably some experts on the entire set and what combinations of colors are on the rare side.



    The green ring with yellow inside may be rare - it was the first time I saw it in 2 years.



    I've not spoke with anyone else about this set.
    Mike
  • robert67robert67 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 4, 2017 6:18AM
    .
  • BunchOBullBunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
    You're a connoisseur and historian Mike, please don't stop!
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: BunchOBull

    You're a connoisseur and historian Mike, please don't stop!




    That's very kind of you to say. Thanx!



    Any thoughts on trying for at least one version of the other rings?




    Thanx Robert. Have thought about it - maybe down the road - the nice thing is that a lot of those go for less money - but - of course - 1 of each is sufficient!



    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wanted to update this thread with the last 2 rings I picked up.



    image



    image



    I'm now up to 15 - here they are on display:



    image



    Thanx for viewing.
    Mike
  • Those are Awesome!!!
  • LOTSOSLOTSOS Posts: 1,308 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a neat item to collect and a cool way to display them in a jeweler's ring tray. Excuse me if this question asks you to give away any trade secrets to locating those but are they something you find on eBay, shows or ? I just find it fascinating that you were able to locate 2 in the last month and this is just a guess but I would think that they are realatively difficult to track down. Don't worry as you know I'm a hockey guy so unless there are some George Vezina ones from some Canadian cereal company out their I won't be any competition for you. image

    Kevin

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx Mick!



    Hiya Kevin - thanx!



    This was an accidental collection.



    I collect the 1935 Quaker Cereal Babe Ruth premiums and when googling it - one of these rings came up.



    Thought it was cool. Then when I saw the variations?



    Well, the "variation gene" in my "collector's DNA" activated.



    As you can see, the variations stem from the 6 ring colors - different color Ruth backgrounds and then variations in the 6 colors.



    Pink is the tough one to find so far.



    I pick these up primarily from eBay but Hakes auctions has sales also.



    Some day, I might do a complete set without focusing in on variations.



    Wish there were a hockey player for you. If you note in the ad? There's a boxer and tennis player.



    Also, I'm mainly a BB board game collector but do like all kinds of oddball stuff - much too much to post here:



    image



    image



    Mike
  • That minute a day gym game is pretty neat. All of that oddball stuff is what I love looking at at big shows like the national. I only really pick up oddball Oriole stuff but I could spend all day on it. What kid hasn't taped up a Wiffle ball. Love those to.
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Really enjoy these presentations. Looking forward to your next display posting.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    As always, nice items Mike!
    Good for you.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx guys!



    Always good to see you "from the sidelines" Steve. image
    Mike
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    I love this thread, Mike. I otherwise wouldn't know these existed.
  • divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi Mike,



    As always I enjoy your eclectic collecting style. The Babe Ruth rings are really awesome. imageimage



    Thanks for sharing your passion.

    Donato
    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
  • seebelowseebelow Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭
    Absolutely awesome!!! Much appreciated posting. Please keep us updated. Now if I see any Ill pick one up for you otherwise id keep on walking....Is there an article or you should consider writing one for SCD or some publication that features rare sets. Id bet it gets published. (and u found the box,,,wow!!)
    Interested in higher grade vintage cards. Aren't we all. image
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx so much for the kinds words everyone.



    Sure adds to the enjoyment! image
    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: seebelow

    Absolutely awesome!!! Much appreciated posting. Please keep us updated. Now if I see any Ill pick one up for you otherwise id keep on walking....Is there an article or you should consider writing one for SCD or some publication that features rare sets. Id bet it gets published. (and u found the box,,,wow!!)




    Time to give some credit if I didn't?



    I missed the "Full Box" - thought it was a flat ad.



    Derek aka Handyman brought it to my attention. He saw the one I posted that someone wanted 400 bucks and found this one at a bit over 100.



    I'm watching. image

    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image



    #16!



    There was a bit of competition for this one.
    Mike
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Congrats Mike! Do you think there was more competition because you've given the set a little publicity?
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: DanBessette

    Congrats Mike! Do you think there was more competition because you've given the set a little publicity?




    Not sure Dan.



    Probably doubt it. This was just on the outside range of the cost - which is from 40 to 75 bucks.



    I've been out bid at times but the good news?



    There's always another that comes down the road.

    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So now I have the layout of 16:



    image



    But this is incredible! Thanx to Derek aka Handyman who saw it on eBay.



    1950 PEP Cereal Box with advertisement: dated Aug. 17, 1950 by Kelloggs



    Some companion pieces are better than others and this one is tops!



    image



    image



    image
    Mike
  • divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now that is how to put a collection together. That companion piece puts the rings over the top!!!imageimage



    Congrats,

    Donato
    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Excellent!
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
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